Between the high walland the roadwith six lines of trafficon a scrap of dried out soilunder a dried up treea deer standsin the very center of New Delhi.
He breathes dirteats dirtsleeps in dirtdrinks dirt.
A nilgai deer in the city of Delhistands and looksat the enchanted touriststaking his photo,at the passing cars,at the wall.
Unable to jump over the wallunable to cross the road
he lives.
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New Delhi, Dec.2016.The poem was first published in Polish in the literary journal Przekroj.Translation from Polish into English by K. Zechenter with C. Morris.
Illustration: Shreyaa Krritika Das