Speed of Life
Sankar Roy – United States

Dear Allah, my mullah, you’re reeling the movie roll of my life
way too fast. I am having a hard time keeping up with it. In one minute,
I have thick hair, in the next, I am bald as a gravestone.

Yes, a bit more slowly, another notch down, that should be good.
Let me see — have I seen that face before, a nazzaara-e-jamaal*,
those eyes whirling by me?

Who is that woman, sitting on a park bench, staring at me? I like her looks.
Please rewind the roll and let me pass again by the way where she is sitting.
Let me stop and ask her name, take her phone number.

I like the melody in her voice, her sad eyes. Let me sit beside her and chat
for a while. Then let me hold her hand, slowly.
Well, may you press the pause button now, keep as it is

that tree bent by the wind, its leafy branches blurring in the light.
You may keep this scene on the TV screen
for eternity.

*beautiful woman