This poem with a montage of images of city life, by Prof. Sanjoy, depicts contentment and discontentment. An exclusive for Different Truths.

The moon is peering from behind the clouds,
A new bride has entered her father-in-law’s house.
Three frail washerwomen are mumbling prayers
To the almighty, lamp in hand at the doorstep.
An office peon in uniform greets the first lighted
Bulb with incense in his folded hands for bliss.
Loudspeakers blare romantic songs from the distant market
Place, the cobbler has wound up and cows have settled
Down under his reserved tree. Sweepers have gathered
At the teashop to move out for shots of hooch
And the old plumber has hit the bottle under the lamppost.
Women have started burning cycle-tyres to keep themselves,
And their children, warm. One week back having returned
From Britain, I wonder at this picture of contentment
Rising with the poisonous smoke to touch the sky.
 

Visual by Different Truth

Prof. Sanjoy Saksena

Prof. Sanjoy Saksena was educated at the Universities of Allahabad and Oxford where he was a Commonwealth student St. Catherine’s College. Various academic errands and programmes have taken him to Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France and Sweden. He has published numerous papers/ chapters in various books and journals. He writes poetry also and dabbles in theatre. He has been the Warden of the Muir Hostel and at present he is Professor of English at the University of Allahabad.