Mother and Child


  A gypsy woman
  of a rare
  and ferocious
  beauty,
  is seated
  on the pavement,

  a child
  lies upon
  her lap,
  and arranged
  before her
  on a faded blue cloth,
  are coloured liquids
  in glass bottles,

  she rolls one
  up & down
  the blind boys
  naked body,
  and the child
  laughs
  delightedly,

  she opens
  the glass stopper
  and the presents the liquid
  for the boy
  to smell,

  then she waves
  it slowly
  round and around
  his head,

  both smile joyously
  as he follows
  and takes in
  the perfumed
  scent,

  as they sit together
  beneath the hot sun
  by the crowded street
  in Mysore
  Southern India.