POEM_: A Birthday

Birthday!
The tenth of Ramadan
my sixth birthday
Mother is ready
with the iftar snacks,
to be sent to the mosque
for the faithful. To be consumed
at the end of their day-long fast.

I leave, holding
the hand of my cousin
and the box of goodies.
In the mosque
a clean cloth is ready
with some iftari already spread
and some being spread.
Happily,
I set forth my offerings.

An old man totters by
Looks at the goodies
with a gleamy lonely eye.
I offer him a piece
and he grabs it thankfully.

A furtive glance
at a long-coated man,
bearded, respectable;
and quickly, the piece
disappears in his mouth.

The hawk, disturbed
by the sudden change
in the steady pattern
closes in: hits the man
on his weary little head
and shouts -
Sabar nahin hota buddhe?
(Can’t you wait, you silly old man?)

I return home
crying,
my birthday ruined.

.

- owais

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This was first published in the book, 'Love?'