We sat down

spreading our differences

color, caste, faith, height, weight

‘yeah,that’s big’ he laughed

place, food, belief, speech

‘go on’, he said

‘keep them down he said

and now just stand up

bottled souls

genies’

he burst out at seams

laughter broke his bones

bent his muscles

crinkled his nose

crushed his weight

squished his cheeks

puffed his ears

thumped his chest

and he walked away winking.