The middle-aged king can
cover his kingdom within
five slow minutes, albeit
he takes half a summer day,
saunters scratching his beard
and hair on his chest underneath
his frayed red velvet suit.
Sometimes he ceases to move
turn and watch the village
whose good people leave
food and old clothes for him
on the cement-seat around
the old banyan tree.
This kingdom and his reign
is older than this road but
not half as wide. It begins
near the hyacinth bed and
unravels where a bald dog stands
and stares at the milestone
denoting the distance between
the town and the heartland.
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Kushal Poddar
Picture Nick Victor
Kushal Poddar lives in Kolkata, India
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