Octopus Poem by chidananda sali

A typical temple scene -
Long queues of devotees and beggars
Are proof enough

Here sits an old lady
Sick, frail, struck by leprosy
She is all skin and bones
Abandoned by all, waiting for death to call

Enters another old man,
Leper, sick and frail
- - - - - -
His the same story

Too weak to sit,
He wavers and rubs his hand against her
Offended, she begins cursing

Can’t you see, you Idiot?
Why don’t he move aside?

Who knows what caste he belongs to?