A heart of prayer
by Gopi Kottoor
[ poetry - december 09 ]
Three doves and a crow
turn oval
in the fading light
of pink fire
burning away
at the mouth of the Ganga.
Upon the slipping ghat underwater,
the bleach of lonely feet
grips mortal terror.
Washed white,
widowed breasts
pale to starfish
abandoned upon
longing shores.
In the heart of prayer,
each eye upon its capstan of grief,
tosses, turning to death's fungus
in time's soft bread.
