What’s that stench?

It’s ammonia mixed with alcohol

and some other chemical,

It’s some thing new and different –

not usually smelled in my apartment,

It’s a different set of chromosomes,

It’s a mix of desires and wishes of various kinds,

It’s a combination of pleasure and revulsion,

and hope and apprehension,

I smell it, stop and ponder,

and wash it away with a mugful of water.

Poem and photos: Sanchita Chatterjee