Enduring change..

What’s changed in the town I ask myself, other than Cars, houses and streets?
Unchanged, the place appears, in spite, of all the changes that one sees

Unchanged is the rooster posing as a clock, unchanged the twittering birds
Unchanged are the frolicking goats in the grass, and the lazy buffalo herds

The cowpats stuck to the wall are the same, interspersed with posters of men
Clad in khadi with folded arms, with a brown disc for a face over them

Unchanged are the arrayed balls on the road, made of mud, coal dust and dung
Unchanged is smell of the fresh wood smoke, tickling the breather’s lung,

Same is the woman who bends and blows, with a pipe into a stove of mud
Same mongrels mosey around with the cows, which chew the same old cud,

Unchanged graphitti on the same old wall, states it’s not a loo, in vain
Unchanged is the act of man and dog, who disregard with disdain,

Same crows lie in wait to steal some grain, same eagles up high, glide
Same lads at the river with the bull and the bus, wash their respective rides,

Unchanged is the peal of the bell from the shrine, as a worthy to the lord speaks
No change at all in the manner or the words and same are the blessings he seeks,

The priest with the incense sticks is the same, describing circles in the air,
Directing the fumes to the lord with his palm, (is that a ringtone I hear?)

His hand vanishes into his voluminous wrap, and fishes out a piece in black,
He anoints my forehead while blessing me, multitasks, as he answers back

Perfectly commonplace for you and me, while others might find it strange,
India shall always remain the same at heart, yet embrace every change