Back Next Reality is a Window

I walked up to reality
which was a window
in a Calcutta slum
(worse that Harlem
for this was India)
and saw that deep
seated
ugliness
reflected in the cracked
glass
and smelled that deep
seated smell
of bodies rotting in the hot sun
quickly I hastened
to the airport
bought a ticket
and hopped onto a plane
and soon ate my mid morning
dinner
to the chirp of western music
composed in
fantasy

Irwin R. Shaw - July 21st 1985