the walls move. they are not alive. there is nothing to be alive for in Kashmir.

"...in Kashmir. A side street in Srinagar. Walking tiredly, walking strangely. Falling down then up. Neck snapping from side to side. Arms limp. Legs collapsing then taking huge steps forward. Face straight down. The holes in her sari being sucked in then out. This is the way Indira Gandhi moved. A smile, some exhaustion. I remember her favorite word was "Pakistan". Some children screamed "Undead", a streak in the sky, India testing missiles. I did not move because something inside me said that she would take me. I did not want to be taken."

my maple paradise.

alienation, gentrification, and radiation.

you will feel these waves upon your legendary shores.

i know the name of a city with a suspicious skyline.

Dubai is such a mess.

your future is dressed in a shawl of lesions, roars, soot, and aluminium.

1986

Palm trees on fire in the valley, the wealthy scream. First sight of a bloody body in the middle of the street of their cramped neighborhood.
These cults. Their 11th murder of the year. They dream of elevation.


1987

Palm trees on fire in the valley, more murders. First contact with their leader.

Neighborhoods get more and more cramped. There's so much room to sprawl.

They just don't know how to do it.


1988

Those born in this year will live to see the desert battles.

hey teen thrill, this is a sunny city.

This is a sunny city, where clouds will come and go but never stay. Hills like the rolling back in the description of The Lochness Monster at the scene of the sighting. Tall, inspired towers for the cash counters survive the steep hills.

You can never tell the ones who are responsible for our mess in daytime, but when night comes and if you know what to look for, they are neon signs that read "Predator". Cross the street when one is walking down your way because they will store your scent and follow you home another night.

Some of them are lithe, some of them urbane, some both, but not all. They can be chubby, unimpressive looking, young professionals, dog walkers, lounge singers, factory workers, children, and once, they even managed to be crossing guards. They are never just one type.

Their population waxes and wanes. This year they live in high numbers. They slayed 422 in 95.

They watch prey while alone, and and they will often hunt that way. In groups, they interact to discuss human behavior and the constantly changing human psyche. Alarmed they are, it's not an easy thing anymore, going out at night, because humans can read them like a stubborn teenager reads books in the dark.

The sunny city dreams of queues of architects applying for permits to build supertalls. The kill crowd would rather imagine the towers of the sunny city melting into dirty silver rivers going out to sea.

University is hard, the professors train to be mental warriors while their students train to sweat night classes. For you med school students and nursing majors, night shift pre-requisites for medical professionals now require one-and-a-half years of military training instead of just one.

If it sounds stressful living in a world like this, lie comfortable and silent, they never walk into pizzerias.