He walks on the path
left-side, same as Delhi traffic,
behind him two teens with yoyos
finally his silent wife
more than twenty feet behind
in north Indian salwar-kameez
pants pale pink, white top with pink flowers,

the geese on the grass
follow at a careful distance
mother at the head
the five gosling heads peck grass
finally the father
to shepherd family laggards
with steady careful steps –
they are not talking either.

First published in Caper Literary Journal