My lost rib is lost
Girls reject me everywhere
some raise their noses when they see me
In the college they ran away from me
claiming my socks smell nasty
In dance halls bull-dance is killing me
I am told my feet is big and flat like Chapatti
That is the reason I step on every girl’s foot,
if I am lucky to be picked by one
In places of work I am lonely
I am told my pocket has pot-holes;
that why I cannot by ice cream.
A rat in the mosque and me are brothers in want.
One heart-breaker told me to check in the mirror
for the size of my big nose
that inhales air without discrimination
“God made a mistake. Your nose is fit for hippopotamus.
Engineers can hire your nose for warehouse ventilators,”
she ridiculed me!
I sit and ask myself; why me of all youth?
Where is my lost rib lost?
I should go to the anatomist for examination.
Probably he will tell me that I am the only one
with twelve pairs of ribs, not eleven.
By this I will rest my case.
Her callused fingers
plow flour. A clock
pendulum annoys her.
‘Anon’, he’s impatient
before the plate. Her
sweat creates a moon
in wheat. A soft thing
is transformed by a hot
experience. It swells
like the belly of a
pregnant lady. Kitchen
heat disfigures beauty.
Dark spots appear
slowly. Steam,
like anxieties of an
exploited wheat farmer,
rises up from the chest
of chapatti. ‘Dry chapatti’,
he utters his distaste. It
wets with concealed tears.
(Chapatti is a flat round South Asian bread.)
We two Indians went to the hotel Storartad Sweden
And ate lots of Munkers , Æbleskiver and Poffertjespan
Coming back home we landed well on a chapatti
Kuzhi paniyaram Daal Sabji Bhaji and Roti
And a Japanese Takoyaki all they are love cuisines man
Bagels and baguettes
Bap or fried bake,
The fruits of the flour
are easy to make
Chollah, chapatti,
Cinnamon bun.
These global delights,
make eating such fun.
Filled with Caribbean sweet meat
like Guava jam,
Scottish smoked salmon;
Or Danish roast ham.
Add a fresh fruit salad,
Some sparkling wine,
A candle, red roses and
you’re ready to dine.
Joanna Davis
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