The JAMA Masjid Butcher
Urdu, bloody at his lips
and fingertips, in this
soiled lane of Jama Masjid,
and fingertips, in this
soiled lane of Jama Masjid,
is still fine, polished
smooth by the generations.
smooth by the generations.
He doesn’t smile but
accepts my money
with a rare delicacy
accepts my money
with a rare delicacy
as he hacks the rib of History.
His courtesy grazes
His courtesy grazes
my well-fed skin
(he hangs this warm January morning
on the iron hook of prayer).
on the iron hook of prayer).
We establish the bond of phrases,
dressed in the couplets of Ghalib.
dressed in the couplets of Ghalib.
His life is this moment,
a century’s careful image.
a century’s careful image.
Agha shahid
