To Poet-Laureate
(Nissim Ezekiel – My Mentor)

In the café,
as you hurriedly sip
tea from a cup,
worrying about my appointment,
I can hear the heavy rain.
I am getting late.

In the dark glimmering sky,
you too have noticed
the monsoon’s onslaught,
And proclaim you have an umbrella!
I do not have one.
You tell me we can share it.

Mumbai
1996

Geeta Chhabra