Manhood

Standing at the banks, he shifts his weight
From one leg to the other- he slowly scratches
The back of his right ear- he looks around.
And it all comes rushing back to him-
Bile rises up his throat and leaves its acerbic
Imprint. He breathes in, trying to calm down
The stream giggles- a strange cackle, almost
Jeering him, his fears- and he sits and sees
A spider slowly catch a fly in its web behind
Two rocks- blackened with age and moss.
He cries- looks up and cries some more,
He hears footsteps- fast as lightning he plunges
His head into the stream- which swallows its tears
And leaves renewed hope in his eyes. The two men
Draw in- there he was , they exclaim- and smile.
He smiles back- a three-toothed grin- white like his lies
And black like their hearts. They will test him.
He fears- he knows he'll fail- he looks again at his
Spindly arms- and his wrists narrowing and flail.
He starts to shiver- his legs do not give way.
He gallops towards the horizon- until the gurgle
Is a mere hum- and the forest is his friend now.
But in the darkness, he sees several eyes goad into him.

By evening- he returns his playthings into a basket,
And readies himself for dinner, and she- garbed in
A cotton sari with straight-lined patterns- places rotis
Upon his plate and tells him of the rules of manhood.