A cuckoo is calling
from a nearby neem tree,
a dozen naked children are catching
dragonflies in the sun,
unaware of the everyday war
their beaters fight
On the mud floor rest
a packet of potato,
a packet of cheap rice,
a tiny bottle of mustard oil,
and a couple of drumsticks–
a hearty meal at the end of the day,
a meal that keeps them fit
for the sun and shower
