The monkey-show is on-
Patient girl on haunches holds the strings,
a baby in her arms.
Two tiny monkeys in red and purple pantaloons
prepare to dance.
Crowd collects, forms a circle.
Naked to the waist,
The Master of Ceremonies drums frenzy,
cracks whip, calls the tricks
to earn applause and copper coins.
The circle thickens as the plot thickens.
Children laugh, the untouchable women
Smooth their hair. A coolie
grins at me, his white teeth
gleam in the sunlight.
Only the monkeys are sad.
and suddenly
the baby begins to cry.
Anticipating time for payment,
the crowd dissolves,
some, in shame part
with the smallest coin they have,
the show moves on.