Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Angshuman Kar

Beggar

Without informing us
Sometimes our friends change their numbers
 
With however much force we press the green button then
And dial the old number
It does not ring
 
Sometimes, however, it rings
And a grave unknown voice says
“Wrong number”.
 
Sometimes
It rings and I hear “Hello” . . .
I think I am talking to my old friend
I keep talking.
Ten seconds elapse, twenty seconds
The line does not get disconnected.
Then, after a while,
The person who, in a slightly melancholic voice, says
“Wrong number”,
Is also a beggar of words.
Without informing him
His friends too
Have changed their numbers!

BEGGAR

Close

Beggar

Without informing us
Sometimes our friends change their numbers
 
With however much force we press the green button then
And dial the old number
It does not ring
 
Sometimes, however, it rings
And a grave unknown voice says
“Wrong number”.
 
Sometimes
It rings and I hear “Hello” . . .
I think I am talking to my old friend
I keep talking.
Ten seconds elapse, twenty seconds
The line does not get disconnected.
Then, after a while,
The person who, in a slightly melancholic voice, says
“Wrong number”,
Is also a beggar of words.
Without informing him
His friends too
Have changed their numbers!

Beggar

Without informing us
Sometimes our friends change their numbers
 
With however much force we press the green button then
And dial the old number
It does not ring
 
Sometimes, however, it rings
And a grave unknown voice says
“Wrong number”.
 
Sometimes
It rings and I hear “Hello” . . .
I think I am talking to my old friend
I keep talking.
Ten seconds elapse, twenty seconds
The line does not get disconnected.
Then, after a while,
The person who, in a slightly melancholic voice, says
“Wrong number”,
Is also a beggar of words.
Without informing him
His friends too
Have changed their numbers!
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