Bovine India 4

Painted, dairy, backdoor-herd

so much more than milk and curd.

Necklaced Oxen, driving-broke

so much more than cart and yoke.

Temple statue, laced with gold

so much more than plaster mould.

Fancy dress cow, “photo me”

so much more than cheese and ghee.

Tender new-born, home's a street

so much more than glue and meat.

Branded bull calf, must’ve stung

so much more than gas and dung.

Sacred buffalo, ploughing-worn

so much more than hide and horn

Kine of India, merit-fed

May egrets crown your holy head.