churning of milky oceans — Uma Menon

when milk is green, it is no
longer fit for drinking

tongues are made only for churning
white solids of milk, for separating

ocean salt from hurricane shelters
& leaving behind blandness

search for Vishnu to tell me
which is poison, which is

nectar, which is for eating
& which is for destruction

when an ocean is green, there
is much left to be done

oil to extract, lather on bodies
& skin desiccated by the harsh

grasp of saltwater crystals
drenched in heated milk

wonder why they used Mandhara
if oil drills were at their disposal