Near Khan Market, Delhi 2008

                                                                       for Inderjit Badhwar

If not for leavings in swept streets

would cows roam free and stray dogs eat?

to Lodhi Gardens from the Taj at dawn

stepping into the street when not yet light

to avoid a family’s sleeping feet

bare white soled along the pavement

where their business lived

then before breakfast crossing the road 

to walk a circuit of Muslim tombs 

entering formal gardens through park gates 

joining others brought by car 

then back past that other Badhwar’s house 

ham rashers

fried eggs 

toast 

not yet reading India Legal

Copyright © Dick Russell 2016