Andheri Local

In the women’s compartment 

of a Bombay local 

we seek

no personal epiphanies. 

Like metal licked by relentless acetylene 

we are welded –  

dreams, disasters, 

germs, destinies, 

flesh and organza, 

odours and ovaries 

A thousand-limbed 

million-tongued, multi-spoused 

Kali on wheels. 

 

When I descend 

I could choose 

to dice carrots 

or a lover. 

I postpone the latter. 

The free tracks you can enjoy in the Poetry Archive are a selection of a poet’s work. Our catalogue store includes many more recordings which you can download to your device.

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Poetry of South Asia

This living and evolving digital and audio-visual collection explores the breadth, influence and poetic lineage of South Asia.

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