Silk Routes

Silk routes of India converged On the South Indian city of Cochin Where brides demurred and glittered At a sprawling sari arcade Like lamps on a windless Diwali night Colors poured over them As did unwed salesgirls Attending on and draping them with passion Their hearts filled with dreams Of rainbow hues Of eligible men on the distant horizon With wedding garlands in their hands The sale should go on Season or no season Monsoon or no rain No matter who weds or remains unwed Insensitive remains Silk and fiber to youthful dreams Heart, emotions and passion Delighted stood the prospective bride A smile perched on her lips Busy moved the salesgirls around like bees With a Goddess sobbing in their hearts Silent like the unwed one of the Cape Lighted by a flickering lamp on a summer night As silk routes converged on Cochin Careless who did wed or who did weep