Bombae
The past and the present, the good and the bad, the rags and the riches—this is the story of Bombay, of how it is remembered in memory.
A warmth that runs
deep through my veins.
The deep familiarity
of gullies and lanes.
Skyscrapers that soar
from within her soul.
Seem indifferent, unfamiliar.
Surely taking a toll.
Double deckers and kaali peelis
would weave their way.
Sketching many a dream
over the bay.
Crowds now wrestle cars
and weave a maze.
It gets hard to discern dreams
amidst the smoggy haze.
Mills once stood proud.
'Rags to riches' stories spun.
From nights spent on platforms,
of how opportunity was won.
Malls now stand tall.
Life's struggles on display.
Life in a matchbox.
A victory just to survive the day.
Yet,
The famed spirit or not.
A true homecoming.
There's something about this city.
That's always very welcoming.
By Madhavi Rajadhyaksha
