I dropped my revolution
At the gates of my university
When they asked me to graduate
And search for my passion
In hollow, lifeless corporate buildings.
Out of an auto, I hailed a shiny cab
To take me to the promising dustless streets
Where dreams are sold in emails
And the strays are kept hidden
Behind the clean, dry washed curtains of city life.
Out of a wine glass I sipped blood
Of veinless waiters drenching their sweat
On an ordinary verse like this
Written by poets promising
To change the world with red paint and inqalab.
Under an amaltas trees carrying a guitar
And the hopes of earning a rupee or two
I wander in wonderment amidst posh houses
Shaking hands with the hope of a bright future
I made up in my head.
Someday I’ll make it back to that university
Stand up for every right thing
Until then I will pretend to be a revolutionary
Without a vision without a dream
Swimming through the pool of mediocrity.
Kasturi Ghosh is a graduate in English Literature from Jamia Millia Islamia, with an interest in literary theory and psychoanalysis.
Featured image: Siora Photography / Unsplash