The Walk Back From School Poem by Monita Soni

The Walk Back From School



It was final exams

I was let out an hour later

My tonga wallah had left

There were no cell phones

It was 1970, a hot blazing

Afternoon in Jaipur

I decided to walk down

What they call Ajmer Road


I walked for 10 minutes

My navy cotton suit

Stuck to me, why had

I worn silver bells

They were loud in

The sleepy afternoon

I wrapped my navy chiffon dupatta around me

Hiding the silver ribbon

I was tall for my age


My heart thumped in my

Slender rib-cage

Three street urchins

Called out to me

They were on bikes

They rode along side

Asked me if I needed a lift

I kept walking, praying

Under my breath


Stiff, tall, scared

I looked up

Big vultures with silver

Under wings swooped down

Hovering, The boys

Were still there

Calling, I was running now

My head pounding


The road suddenly ended

The yellow walls gleaming

The fig and pomegranate tree

I was happy to be home

I ran inside, splashed my

Face and sat down to

A glass of milk and a sticky bun

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Monita Soni

Monita Soni

Chandigarh, India
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