Poorest of shacks on Delhi street
is refuge from abusive union
familial isolation,
yet where poverty settles
deeper than the ancient dust
destitute bodies tread upon,
and survival is always tentative
as a newborn’s first breath.
Baggy cotton pants
are seated cross-legged atop sole prized possession;
a jumbled pile of colorfully worn blankets.
Coffee-colored wrinkles
trace the rugged terrain of her life;
simple silver rings adorn darkly-gnarled hands;
a tiny forgotten vanity.
Thin, ropey wrists
rest placidly in a saffron-colored lap.
Rheumy eyes cast perpetually downward,
beyond dirty wrinkled feet.
A softly-patterned scarf
loosely covers a long salt and pepper braid;
her only constant companion.
Her accordion-pleated mouth forgets how to smile.
Solace is found in temple prayer.
Within the mean confines of her canvas-covered walls,
silent contemplation fills each corner.
She is at peace.
Author Bio:
A thumbnail sketch of Susan Surette includes: Cape Cod retiree, nature lover, yogi, aspiring hand drummer, grandmother of three, travel enthusiast, lifelong bibliophile, hiker and neophyte poet. Susan has seven years of past writing experience, freelance journalism-style writing, for a fledgling local newspaper created by a fully-female staff in Massachusetts. Recently her first poem “Sticking One’s Neck Out” was accepted for publication by UK publisher, The Curlew.
is refuge from abusive union
familial isolation,
yet where poverty settles
deeper than the ancient dust
destitute bodies tread upon,
and survival is always tentative
as a newborn’s first breath.
Baggy cotton pants
are seated cross-legged atop sole prized possession;
a jumbled pile of colorfully worn blankets.
Coffee-colored wrinkles
trace the rugged terrain of her life;
simple silver rings adorn darkly-gnarled hands;
a tiny forgotten vanity.
Thin, ropey wrists
rest placidly in a saffron-colored lap.
Rheumy eyes cast perpetually downward,
beyond dirty wrinkled feet.
A softly-patterned scarf
loosely covers a long salt and pepper braid;
her only constant companion.
Her accordion-pleated mouth forgets how to smile.
Solace is found in temple prayer.
Within the mean confines of her canvas-covered walls,
silent contemplation fills each corner.
She is at peace.
Author Bio:
A thumbnail sketch of Susan Surette includes: Cape Cod retiree, nature lover, yogi, aspiring hand drummer, grandmother of three, travel enthusiast, lifelong bibliophile, hiker and neophyte poet. Susan has seven years of past writing experience, freelance journalism-style writing, for a fledgling local newspaper created by a fully-female staff in Massachusetts. Recently her first poem “Sticking One’s Neck Out” was accepted for publication by UK publisher, The Curlew.
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