Jaipur

I ate a mango on the sidewalk and watched the gypsy boy with his magic tricks

“The ball goes to Bombay, the ball goes to Chennai” he says,

making them disappear, I wish he would make me disappear too

to someplace else.  Like me.

I gave him ten rupees

His face told me he was expecting more,

Like the time I was in the taxi in Delhi and the little girl did somersaults at the stoplight

Darting in between traffic, her little bare feet course from this daily routine

Her eyes glance my way after her last twirl through the air, waiting

The waiting for me to do something,

I’m supposed to do something.

Do I offer her a sad smile.

What good is a smile when it’s not what you’re looking for.