One Battle after Another

 

Josie with her litter

Maya 

Josie is impatient 

her litter of four 

squeals, like stars

in collision with

the first filaments 

of morning light.

Maya drops by, indifference 

in gait but it's in the eyes 

that curiosity lounges

impenetrable her gaze

insiduous her intentions 

little Josie ferocious

in her demeanor 

assailed by throbbing

pangs of motherhood

roars like a tigress;

the cashew tree trembles

Maya jostles past

cool and contained: she is

an old-timer having seen

the wall she used to sun on,

crumble, reduced to a heap 

of rubble; she has swung 

on the pendulum of timelessness 

and seen many a Josie  

come 

          and 

                 go:

but our Josie is different.

She roars like a tigress;

and plop, plop, plop, 

drop the cashew fruits