Kushal’s poem explores empathy and societal disparity through the perspective of a marginalised veteran beggar in a wintery scene, exclusively for Different Truths.

How do I look through the wounded 
glasses of the veteran vagrant, beggar? 
Winter comes hither. The aluminium 
chimneys of a local baker add 
vanilla fog to the thick air. Do I look
Like one hefty and freshly minted coin?
I throw two bucks and join 
The queue for the last bus.
The seats are booked by the Smoky Ice.
December is a rusty recording of some 
roof concert the driver visited in his youth.

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Kushal Poddar

Kushal Poddar, the author of ‘A White Cane for the Blind Lane’ and ‘How to Burn Memories Using a Pocket Torch’, has ten books to his credit. He is a journalist, father of a four-year-old, illustrator, and editor. His works have been translated into twelve languages and published across the globe.

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