For Raj

The only thing warming me that night
was the heat coming out
from all those pyres
burning the bodies of loved ones and unloved ones
we weren't alone in sorrow
& we weren't ahead in tear count
not that anyone there sat and counted...i think
but i hear
that people like that too exist
bodies
in different stages of perish
and families
in different stages of demolish
meet at such places
and the only thing that warms them on those cold nights
is the heat coming out
from all those pyres
burning the bodies of loved ones and unloved ones

. Jan 20 2009 .