perhaps physically challenged
frail old shivering holy scriptures
he read his frugal breakfast water
bread a woolen cap protected
his head on the side of a road
in lucknow warming himself
under a quilted bed spread
he told me in a soft voice his
time was drawing near soon
he would be dead he feared
the rains as there was no
plastic covering overhead
i quietly placed a hundred
rupees note in his wrinkled
hand and politely fled
