Arvind Krishna Mehrotra

What is he, I understand it not, A modernist, post-modernist or avant-gardeist, A poet of Allahabad, But one dislocated and displaced definitely Telling of things surreal, Talkative and conversational, Poetical not, un-poetical As means it not What he says, communicates Apart from situational, circumstantial. A poet not, going to bazaar, Buying things, enquiring about rates, Meeting people on the way, Seeing things, Smiling not, In a vortex of thoughts and ideas, A poet un-poetical, Himself confused Confusing others. His white and flowing beards Not Tagorely, But the kaash grass blooms Similar to white beards Long and flowing, A saint poet not, But earthly and mundane, Disordered and disarranged, Never transcendental and metaphysical, A poet surreal, Talking and going. Poetry to Mehrotra is gossips, Conversation, Talks, Tidbits of thought and idea, Poetical not, U-npoetical, A poet confused And misinterpreting poetry, A poet not, But a non-poet as a poet.