From dadi’s home

Burned toes on scalding tea when you carried
tray laden with chai, cinnamon scents left
to boil on stove. Sleep surrounded

by stuffed toys kept at twenty: dog bigger than
a baby, three (sewn) sock monkeys, (beanie) bear,
bear (in a graduation cap), (regifted) snow leopard,
(sewn) bird. Blown out candle smoke carries you

to dreams when the light goes out. Find food
(dadi’s haleem) in freezer amidst ice-cream
and sandwiches. Eat with (store-bought)
garlic naan: maa ka haath ka khana ki tarha  

kisi aur cheez nahi hai.[1] Mehndi cone propped
against (half-used) pens. Dadi calls and says,
khabi dadi ki yaad karo, kabhi ghar ki yaad karo.[2]

[1] there’s nothing like food cooked by your mother’s hand.

[2] remember dadi (paternal grandmother) sometimes, remember home sometimes.