Homeless

The Beggar

I lie undernourished beside the gutter,
Reveling in the stench of the putrid,
The rotting and the unclean.
I lie pathetically upon the sidewalk,
Clutching the feet that pass me by,
Always hurrying towards flickering dreams.
I lie lonely beneath the window,
Reaching out to the distant voices
Muffled by black curtains.
I lie diagonally opposite the hospital,
Giving company to strangers,
The distressed and the unseen.
I lie cold before the stars,
And when the cry of a new born babe
Disturbs the reverie of the night,
I feel warm and slowly surrender to sleep.

Rajat Narula