A HERD OF LEGENDS

( for Shyam Sunder Sharma )

always in the background
of my mind I am

hearing
listening to

the ananda-lahari
of Arun's voice

speaking to me
in best Kolatkarese

as I ride
his KALA GHODA

to the outskirts of
JEJURI

and there dismount
walking barefoot

into the town
of his mind

bowing before
his words

this here
this now

drinking his voice
thirstily down

to the very last sound
marking each syllable with turmeric

offering the ashes
of anything I can say

I the humble havildar

to the temple
of your thought

until you take a final drag
from a half bent charminar

flick it from fingers
laugh...tell me to. . .

"****** off!
Go on...!"

"And make
a poem of your own!"