Ranthampaur.(Poem)

 
RANTHAMPAUR 
 
   My Uncle's house was full of 
   tessellated wooden tables. 
   He had some connection with India; 
   Built the East Indian Railway 
   in Empire days when 
   tweed coats had buttoned flaps. 
 
   Buddhas sat by the stairs, 
   beatified the bay window. 
   In the hall a grey elephant's foot 
   took ivory topped canes, black umbrellas. 
 
   I remember he used to say, 
   "When it rains tigers walk near walls." 
   He talked of the kohled green eyes 
   of the tigress Munchi. 
 
   "She chose a cool secluded spot 
   to raise her first litter 
   by the lakes of Ranthampaur 
   in the valley of the great tigers. 
 
   On the banks, crocodiles waited 
   with black feathered vultures 
   for a ...