Holi in Hyderabad

Walking down the street of bangle-sellers
Pleases the woman in me

Everyone is Radha, everyone Krishna
Some bhang-drunk are Narasimha in choler

Everyone is dyed red in the blood
Hindu and Moslem; families turn Turk

Boys have pressed the fruit to their lips and dyed
Holi has them by the collar

"There is no man or woman / only the god of love"
Sweet death!

In bed I find my hand through the haze
Dipped as if in red.