Wednesday, 16 April 2008

The Long Goodbye

The call came early in the morning.

Uncle is sick - and we are going South today.

The elderly couple left Mumbai at the stroke of noon.

Their grown children abroad, calling on the mobiles, giving advice

Uncle sitting erect with his native dignity, somewhat intact

Both of these saints have HIV, the sickness that does not dare say its name

They were leaving town because at the end of the day they needed love, respect and help

Neither of the abroad-settled adulted children of theirs could offer

A small sliver of hope rests in a cluster of families who said come, live with us

Will we see Uncle again, this side of eternity?

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