Arrhythmic Ghazals - 2

The sun bakes the city. Furnace. “It’s too hot for this.”

The streets whisper shade and secret Gold. “I could be bought for this.”

Gandhari, not seeing her hundred sons die

In Baghdad, off TV, screams, “Not for this.”

Jalianwala Bagh. Back of the crowd. A sudden scuffle.

Adultery discovered, “You could get shot for this.”

As Judas, dazed, walks Jerusalem, the Whore

Who never kisses asks, ‘How much you got for this?’

The first burst of Ghazals springing surprised surprises

People ask, “Anand, did you smoke pot for this?”