I belong by birth to the Indians of Kerala
and owe allegiance to Grandfather Joseph.
In his day, my father was a well-celebrated man,
a valiant store-owner named George.
He outlasted the losers-of-lotto
and went on his way. All over the world
men wise in counsel continue to live out the dream.
So every elder and experienced councilman
among my people supported his resolve
because all knew of his awesome intellect.
They had also seen me bolstered in the wrath of unlucky Take Five numbers
when I battled and bound marauders in my father’s store,
raided the candy-isle and in the marsh-den
slaughtered cockroaches and mice.
If the rodents win, it will be a gruesome day;
they will glut themselves on leftover crumbs in the soda-isle,
scatter without fear on that flower of manhood
as on others before. I meant to perform to the uttermost
what people wanted or perish in the attempt,
in the fiends’ clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose,
prove myself with a proud deed
or meet my death here in the soda-isle.