This whimsical, fun poem by Raja paints a vivid picture of a peculiar, crooked world inhabited by a quirky couple, exclusively for Different Truths.

In a crooked lane
Inside a crooked house
 
Stayed a crooked man
With his crooked spouse
 
Their walls leaned inwards
Their roof had a frown
 
Holes stood for windows
And doors upside down
 
Their floors ran in waves
Stairs hung in air
 
In a crooked corner
Sat a crooked chair
 
The mirrors were all broken
The table, a sorry sight
 
The bed and the cupboard
Always had a fight
 
 
They ate in spirals. plates
With spoons bent twice
 
And slept on a crooked mat
With their crooked mice
 
You will find them in no time
If you open the gate
 
Cross the zigzag lanes
And keep going straight.

Illustration by the poet

Raja Chakraborty

Raja Chakraborty, born in Kolkata, is a bilingual poet, a gifted artist and bureaucrat, crafting seven English and nine Bengali poetry collections. His works grace magazines, anthologies, and e-zines. In the West Bengal Excise Department, he combats drug abuse and oversees liquor shop licensing under the Bengal Excise Act 2012, curbing illegal trade. Balancing literary passion with public service, Chakraborty’s contributions enrich West Bengal’s cultural and administrative spheres, showcasing his dedication to poetry and societal welfare.