Evolution

I note the evolution
of the highway

as it speeds along to places,
from scruffy potholed disgrace
with swarming masses of local people infesting it,
to sleek grey snake
yellow barriers on either side
keeping bipeds out

It winds scenically through mountained countrysides
with flowering trees thoughtlessly waving in line on its spine,
a strange unpeopled spectacle, like out of an unidentifiable foreign postcard
beautiful but characterless and sterile

I watch with a delight
only inspired by things that never change

as a man muddies the vision
threadbare towel draped over a bare shoulder
thin checkered lungi slung around a dignified waist,
happily, unblushingly, and incongruously, picking the flowers
[that the highway and everybody on it, leaves behind in the mad rush to go somewhere],
perhaps for the morning puja on the other side of
the not so intrusive,
nor so immune after all to Indian-ness,

highway.


July 26 2008
(Note to self: Inspired by a road trip to Chennai]