How do you do?
How do you do.
normal as not-speak.

How is the weather today?
How is the NAT today?
How is the checkpoint today?

The ritual of question
as sour milk that binds us
of the pedestal-segregating mother
keeping a whiff of peace.

This question does not allow depth
it does not allow play

The question drowns
in its stench of wisdom
while its ideology has a price

A question as non-negotiable
a question as reflection-dogma
a glue-shackle of social must

when answered, answer as a temporary steppingstone, answer and re-answer, really answer?:

you
are out.

—animasuri’23