5:46, Andheri Local by Arundhathi Subramaniam

5:46, Andheri Local

In a women’s compartment

of a Bombay local

we seek

no personal epiphanies.

Like metal licked by relentless acetylene

we are welded—

dreams, disasters,

germs, destinies,

flesh and organza,

odours and ovaries.

A thousand-limbed

million-tongued, multi spoused

Kali on wheels.

When I descend

I could choose

to dice carrots

or a lover.

I postpone the latter.