Adalaj

I descend, down to the lowest level.

Lizzy is by the well, waiting for me.

She twirls her sari.  "I am no devil--

I'll show you whatever you want to see."


"Tell me what happened to Queen Rudabai,

Widowed when Begada killed her rana,

Rather than marry him she plunged to die

where you stand.  Did she attain Nirvana?"


"I'll look her up.  I'm sure she's on my phone.

Yes, there she is.  Begada is there, too.

You can see them.  I hear him moan.

She's stabbed out his eyes with a spike-heeled shoe.


The myth's wrong.  In truth, Rudabai chose Hell.

She killed him and never jumped in the well."


[Adalaj stepwell, Adalaj, Gujarat, 7-17-24]

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