Creaking doors and sounds of thunder bolt
muffle the voices inside the house
The water tap has been left on
The plates with left over vegetables float in kitchen sink
The chicken curry stays on the induction
The smell of charred meat and metal lingers on
In the living room
tables and chairs are in disarray
pictures and ornaments are strewn on the floor
Kids look into broken mirror pieces
they see her feet, her pajama, her T-shirt
and then her face
With her face turned one sided
She has been swinging back and forth
and on sideways
Just to be sure
kids peer into mirror pieces further
Yes, she is swinging
Swinging alone in the park
was forbidden for them
You may fall down
She told them repeatedly
Yet she isn’t falling
Maybe because father is holding her
cheering her
with bloodshot eyes
