it was a small shop
an old shop
the man inside
didn’t look too wise.
i wanted some sugar
one kilo sugar
the shopkeeper smiled
and packed it up quickly.
twenty please
that’s twenty rupees
his fingers twirling
his thick ancient whiskers.
it didn’t seem right
the price i mean
so i asked him
isn’t your price too high?
he looked at me
with piercing black eyes
a few flies
buzzing with laughter.
his hands moved
and opened his wallet
here’s fifty rupees
go make a kilo for me.
i could hear
peals of more laughter
as i walked back
from a man very wise.