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| Under the Peepal tree. |
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| Kanda-bhaji and tea with the deaf-mute. |
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| The Lexicon sails by. |
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| Terry's Bar and Restaurant. |
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| The ferryboat Madgao docks at Betim. |
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| Betim police station. |
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| Crotons line the path to Terry's. |
- Brian Mendonca
The deaf-mute beckons
for me to sit beside him,
as he watches the river
from the steps on the stairs.
Ferryboat Madgao oscillates
across the Mandovi
as Terry's eyes the pier
where, one night, gently
a body was washed up.
Mangalore tiles
canopy the policemen,
A fisherwoman swats flies
hovering over the fish.
The Lexicon sails past
-no sign of the Titan
prow poised Westward
to the city of kings.
Enveloped am I
by the giant Peepal tree
Working women wait
to get to the other side.
Kanda-bhaji at Pava's
a tiny paper cup of tea,
half for the deaf-mute
half for me.
(18 June 2025
Betim ferry point
North Goa)
Notes
-Titan: Submersible developed by OceanGate which sank in the Atlantic ocean on 18 June 2023, with five on board. It was on a dive to view the wreck of the Titanic near Newfoundland, Canada.
-City of kings: Reis Magos
-Other side: Panjim
-Pava: tea shop
People travel on the ferry free of charge - a service rendered by the River Navigation Department of Goa.
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All pix taken by Brian Mendonca on 18 June 2025. Updated 19/6/25.
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