Mother and Child …

A gypsy woman

  of a rare

  and shining

  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.