How To Fix A Safety Pin

in sari pleats. You have to first

pick the biggest pin from the bundle

and throw safety from it.

Contemplate whether to wear

or to not wear. Wear, not wear, wear, not…

You wear.

Because the nightmares of sari slipping in public

have haunted you enough.

It holds your sari in a place, lady-like.

Like a lady, lady-like.

Suck in your abdomen. Hold! Hold! Hold!

Look down and fix the pin

but hold! Don’t un-hold your breath.

One, two, three… three two one…

Juggle the breath, the pin, and the eyes

like a circus juggler. But remind yourself

to pick the biggest from the bundle

and throw safety from it.

Don’t worry, try again—suck in your abdomen again

and look down, again.

And in.

Into the first fold, aiming sharply

at your smooth skin.

Punch its sharp end through the second fold.

And lock it. Lock,

lock yourself within a feeble wire-folding.

Pick the biggest from the bundle

and throw safety from it.

Abdomen out, eyes up and relax. 

Keep yourself safe from the pin,

whose safety you had thrown in the bin.

While you sit through that seminar or

That uncle’s daughter’s son’s wedding,

don’t drink or eat too much.

It might upset the pin.

It might pierce your little abdomen

and brutally slaughter your organs.

A blood bath.

A bath of blood.

Because you had thrown the safety

into the bin.