by Ajmer Rode

Kalli followed me eight miles

to the market where

animals were traded like slaves.

Cows goats bullocks camels

Kalli was black beautiful and six

prime age for a water buffalo.

She was dry. Repelled bulls as if she had

decided never to go green.

Hard to afford, my father decided

to sell her.

She obeyed as I led her

by the steel chain, one end in my hand

the other round her neck.

I was fifteen. Her nervousness was over

soon after we entered the market

where sellers occupied

their given spaces like matrimonials

on a large weekly page.

Kalli sat down with no emotion in her eyes

like an ascetic close to nirvana.

I sat stood walked around like a

neglected calf. Nobody bought Kalli.

She followed me 8 miles back home

I wasn’t sure if Father was sad

or glad to see her back. He just

looked at her like a family member

who had missed the train.

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