A Mumbai Boy in New Jersey

There is a crevice

in our kitchen,

in between

the fridge

and the

stove.

And if you peer,

there -

Dust bunny cities,

populated with dropped

fennel seeds, inter-

mixed

With bits of

mango.

Saffron walls,

a vermillion river,

and,

stale banks made from

snapped spaghetti shrapnel.

A few grains of Basmati rice,

Haldur stains -

Yellow, not quite.

Thatched roofs made from

Grandma’s mint leaves,

potting soil out back composed of

Puppa’s Kerala coffee grinds.

Unbrewed coffee on

the countertop.

Tepid saucepan on an unlit burner

with

not enough

fennel to sauté.

An empty fridge -

caramel residue of where

the mangoes used to be.

Cultures,

growing unseen

under stray fluore -

scent lighting, in a crevice

in between the fridge and the stove.