In India

In India

They have no shrinks

Or washing machines

They have use for neither.

With all the dust and misery,

You'd think they would.

Sari-clad women carry boulders of cloth

on their heads,

down to the Ganges

and beat the dirt out

against the rocks in the river

SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP

"Rashid betrothed our baby daughter to Majid for a bride-price of only 1 bolt of cotton, 2 copper kettles and 3 chickens.....

SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP

But Majid's health is poor and he is very old.  Perhaps he will die before she comes of age."

SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP

"The mosquitoes are bad this year."

"That's because the monsoons came early."

"We needed the rain."

"Yes, the wheat is ripening well."

SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP

"My mother-in-law nags me like a crow, 'Sweep the hut. The bread is burned. Fetch the water faster!'"

"She is jealous because your Rashid favors you over her....

You're lucky, my husband spends most of his time in the temple with the priest."

"Perhaps he is planning a pilgrimage to Ampura."

"My sister lives there!  I would love to see her."

SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP

"Jasmine has the coughs again this year."

"It could be worse.  Ramsha the tailor is getting cataracts.  He stitched the armholes closed on Hassan's new shirt."

"That's funny!"

"Not as funny as the look on Hassan's face when he tried to put it on."

"Look, there is Mahmuda....Over here Mahmuda!  Juma has a funny story to tell you!"

SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP SWISH SLAP

With all the dust and misery

Who needs shrinks

or washing machines

In India?

Words by Bahira 1978 (with apologies to modern day India)