My Evening Walk

As I sauntered on my evening walk today
A 30-year-old Jagannath
Accosted me on Himayatnagar road
Says, "Uncle, do you have knee pain?"
Surprised, I say, "No, but why do you ask?"
He says, "Looking at the way you are walking."
I chuckle and say, "Look at my bow legs,
And look at my obesity".
No, you cannot tell by the way I use my walk
As BeeGees sang, "I'm a woman's man, no time to talk".
Sorry for the digression, going back to Jagannath
He gave me an ayurvedic recipe for knee pain
Which his 75-year-old father uses and gets relief.

But, I did not tell Jagannath the other reason
Why I walk the way I do -
I who am single and retired
Am in no hurry to get to any place
Neither home where no one waits
Nor any workplace where I am required
Content to indulge my body's pace
Weather's good, traffic flow steady
I pass mostly shops and restaurants
No houses nearby from where
Either laughter or weeping could reach me
Unburdened by the cares of this world
Thus I saunter on my evening walk.