to the lady in the orange sari:

by india southgate.

 
a figure of bronze
articulating gladly
tuning fork of gold 
painted 'cross forehead and nose
compliments kept between the pleats of 
her orange sari
bordered with gold
marking the limit of her
before the perimeter of me
broken slowly
as she tells me 
my bright red floral dress 
is pretty
to she, my beauty procedes me
to me, i decide
yes i will take your flyer
in these london streets
kind and ethereal lady.

blooming in the desert crowd,
in the industrial hostile garden.

[unpublished]

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