THROUGH A DOORWAY

Through a doorway

you peek

at the passage of time -

its another generation

that laughs at age-old conventions.

Through a doorway

you see them

lounging against walls in bizarre clothes

love songs in their hearts.

Through a doorway

you blink

at thin spaces of sunshine

the flutter of a bird's wings

the Gulmohar in full bloom.

And you realize

time has passed you by

giving way along the folds and creases

the smell of decay

on the gray shades of your life.

TO MY ABUSER

In the clear waters of the lake

do my teardrops make a difference?

Are they distinctive? Do the fish avoid them - so full of pain??

I will never know.

The black charcoal

etched 

your cruel words into my heart

forever

never to erase my mistrust in you -

Your smile - it means nothing!

Your love - it means nothing!

"You're mine!" you claim

"I swear I will never hurt you again!"

....you claim.

Your claim, not mine.

I stare blankly at you.

In the cold grey day outside

In a cloud, I see a form

Why do I see a form?

Why do i feel it follows me everywhere?

Why do I see shadows...

Everywhere??

You and I  - we make no sense

Should we die

and come alive, still

make no sense.

Trying to hold water in your hands -

never a wise thing to do.

OUT OF LINE

In your eyes I saw 

my soul reflected

out of line

you thought

defining line your way

She thought she'd step out of line too - 

not to meet me

but out of line sounded fun

Was it fun once you stepped out?

The breeze blows harder

turns into a cyclone

and you are not she

to not be blown away

Out of line you scream - 

'Mind how you do it!'

A calm only around her

a glow

aglow

She walked the steps keeping

just out of line

and then moves tangent

and parallel out of line

winds speak poetry,

trees nod to rhythm,

she read between the lines

in the silences in vacant patches of 

wet Earth

drawing her own circle

Within Without

TEA SHOP

In my space

built with care

i dream that you will heed my ad

and walk in

bring in your uniqueness

to my green space

the color of tea leaves

sit around the circular tables

chairs pulled in

some chilled water, tissues and a single rose in scented water

white table cloth

propound your theories

place plans boldly on the table

arguments, advices and free flowing small talk

the loner sits with his laptop

his phone on charger

and i flit around with 

my trays and plates, serving

a song in my heart

that i have realized my dream.

THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

You are beautiful.

And you know it.

And I, my shapeless body

Clad in a loose-fitting

Faded nightie

With an apron thrown over it -

A ladle in my hand

Watch.

As you walk down the ramp

In your swimsuit

Your hour-glass figure

And bare legs

Toned to perfection.

The sheen in your hair

Reflects the care 

Your laughing eyes

And cheery smile

Make me forget

That the milk is boiling over........

And then you open your mouth to speak....

And that's when

I reach for my cell phone

My SMS

To decide your fate.

BATCHES OF DREAMS

I dream in batches now
there's a batch of dreams
about the day we ran into each other
remember?
hoping not to be seen..
Pretending to be surprised.



Just so 
the batches continue
into another stream of sublime disbliss
there's someone else in your life now
you're married 
but I 
What of I?
the batches have no answer
they streamline instead to a boat
down a river to Nowhere

I've seen this Sun set before
Yes, there were crimsons and yellows
Not reds, no...
Reds came with your marriage
That left the bleeding scar

Rains turned to icicles.

In batch dreams you can get pierced
till you bleed through the other side
Death then becomes deathlessness -
A prolonged writhing.

I ran in my batches of dreams
chasing my mirage
Of cool waters and green meadows -
Your promises
They now stream
As tears down my face
In batches of despair.

AFTERMATH

Aftermath

Of living on the high lane -

In my pajamas

A cup of strong coffee

And aspirin.

Staring blankly

As I click channels.

Somewhere at the back of my mind

Is a hazy recollection

Of a commitment not met.

 I cannot care less.

My body aches.

I need...respite.

Shades drawn close

Silhouettes 

Books, movies and music

Musings and my muse

Relaxed, I shut my eyes

And curl up

In an aftermath.