Inside the square lines

                                                                     At the pond in Jubilee gardens, IISc- 2014.

The fragrance changed to sandalwood

The colours remained inside

Squares filled in bright and yellow

Haunted, when the heart beat at zero

The doctors rejoiced still, how the medicines had worked

All were safe, inside their homes;

The television sounded far, cooking smelt

Men returned, for supper

I could not stay, I could not follow

Many more squares remain

To paint, first black and then yellow

I must try, to keep inside the lines;

Paints in big rounds and tablets square

The girl who brought them to school

Left by her father who painted the bill-boards

Why does her face come back today?

Big square paints, left from painting the street bill-boards

I liked those

I liked the face, that gave them to me;

Among so many friends, doing right and left

In a remote school ground

Inside the square lines.