The Devourers

by Indra Das

Shahjahanabad,

Akbarabad.

masjids

qafila

qafila.

Bazigars.

maqam

khichri

imakhr

zamindar,

“Yet I see khrissal men take their women all the time, with no regard for whether they want it or not, in every kingdom and empire I travel through. Women create. Men inflict violence on you, envious and fearful, desperate to share in that ability. And it is this hateful battle that keeps your kind extant. You have taught me that your race’s love is just a beautifully woven veil, to make pretty shadows out of a brutal war. This, too, is a terrible art. But I don’t know anymore if it is an art worth emulating.

Dakkhin Rai,

kveldulf

Banbibi.

rakshasa,

supari

“Izrail?”

Varangian

vindaloo.