A Lonely Walk One Night Poem by Ananta Madhavan

Touristic images pursue me in a town,
Perhaps in Culver City, Beverly Hills,
Where highways and cars have shaped
The lives of folks in varied strata.

On a lonely walk at night many shadows
Moved with me along a well-lit street.
A strong shadow, stalking me, suddenly
Lunged forward and overtook me.
Paler shadows were slinking back, but one,
Pitch black in outline boldly slid past me,
Without a word of greeting, but signalling
Full recognition.It was my flitting alter ego.

Daylight deals in shades rather than shadows;
They may be multiple images from distant lands.
The sea has tones of color, black to green
And graded pallor, translucent in the frothing
Foam of billows.The sea is placid in the bay,
Assuring us in a gentle way:No freezing now,
Just a cool day in your tropical time zone.

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