/bicycle rickshaw man/
back railroad straight
the bicycle rickshaw man
skillfully weaves through the
swarming honking belching mass
of people astride fuming machines
the traffic of Gorakhpur
is the antithesis of the Buddha
as if the city
still harbours resentment
at the enlightened one
for bestowing his last breath
on her sister Kushinagar
but the bicycle rickshaw man
exists in simple defiance
to the teeming crowd
back always straight
he stately
pedals on
steadily
in a rhythmic dance
man and rickshaw bicycle one
completely aware
perfectly equanimous
swerving to avoid
a burnished brown cow
eyes pools of sorrowful wisdom
ribcage straining against skin
flesh desiring moksha from bone
a harsh horn erupts
from a Big White Car
ferrying a Big Important Man
horn blares continuously
Big Important Man is in a rush
after all
he has Big Important Things to do
the machinations of bureaucracy
cannot run without his grease
bicycle rickshaw man is unfazed
deftly manoeuvres
allows the Big Important Man to pass
who launches a seething look
cow stares on nonchalantly
bicycle rickshaw man pedals on
as bearded youngsters
whizz past on mopeds
I wonder
if the bicycle rickshaw man
has ever danced
with a motorised machine
does he wish
for the effortless speed
from a twist of the wrist?
does he desire
for a plush leather seat
to recline his spine?
does he dream
of swift movement
unshackled from breath?
We arrive.
I want to ask him my questions
but my voice is laden with inertia
and a part of me doesn't want to know
wants to believe my Story
of dharmic embodiment of Siddartha
because in my Story
the bicycle rickshaw man is happy
with the hand he has been dealt
because the Stories we tell ourselves
are often more palatable
than the Truth.
or maybe
like the Mind and Body
Story and Truth
manifest each other
knowing one
begets the other
maybe this is simply another story.
I pay the fare
50 rupees
the bicycle rickshaw man speaks
I do not understand
the richness of his Hindi
is lost
on my undiscerning ear
I smile and nod
I forget to tip
he pedals away
back railroad straight
— A.S.K
27/01/2021