On a ride to Old Bombay

Behind an oxen driven dray
full of onions, beets and hay
A chicken truck relieved of prey
Three wheeled taxis, black and grey.

A two laned road with six abreast.
motorbikes between them pressed.
Pillion riders, brightly dressed.
trash and filth deeply compressed.

No shame in public defecation,
kids watch their own eliminations.
How could there be recrimination?
They are shielded by their lowly station.

I cannot say I comprehend
The scenes unfolding end to end,
I do not wish to condescend
nor negatively to portend.

Take this with a grain of salt.
Opinions are but 'lame and halt'.
I need much more to claim gestalt.
The blind of culture is at fault.
................

So I will keep reporting, and figuring out what I see, and passing it on. I seem to have a fever of some sort, so this is it for the day. Namaste.