I have been
watching that boy
ever since we came here

As soon as dusk falls
he comes with his ball
in search of a compound wall

Walls may know nothing
about games
but you can trust them
never to flout the rules

On some holidays
and festival days
in the scorching afternoon heat
I’ve seen walls play
with him
their faces implacable

In this colony
there live at least
seven or eight boys
who play with walls.

2

You
I
and so many others
walk furtively
surreptitiously
down this road

Don’t know
why the dogs
pick only
the rag-picker woman
as their enemy.