The Day I was My Sister’s Chaperone
Tall tan stranger
in safari suit flew
from Kenya to Kashmir
to woo her
at the Shalimar
she raised her sari
to her ankles
at the fountain’s edge
he rolled his cuffs
to his knees. Their
toes touched. She waved
and a glint on her finger
caught my curious eye.
“Amorous Lover”
sailed silently amidst
lotus buds and leaves,
the shikarawallah
slashing Dal Lake
with heart-shaped oar.
By Rafiq Kathwari, the first non-Irish recipient of the Patrick Kavanagh Award.
Twitter: @brownpundit
Website: rafiqkathwari.com