Poem: For the Sister in Heaven

Published in the Bangalore Review (September 2018). http://bangalorereview.com/2018/09/for-the-sister-in-heaven/  

Ammi

No matter the wreckage, my mother's always there, With warm milk and a dollop of sweet honey to soothe my bruised heart, And I get scared every day that she cures me - Will she leave me helpless with a mouthful of forevers? _______________________ The above four-line poem was my submission for a contest held by Spoken Stage (https://www.facebook.com/spokenstage/?fref=ts). I …

1947

Religion Used to drive a wedge between two good friends - Not the usual story But now made a commonplace, bitter rivalry - Nights Peaceful as they were, turned into chances for war. Never did this happen Now there was no peace - strange times. - Ram Turned into a violent man, no longer your …

A Special One

The following is a poem that my lovely-est friend, Bushra wrote for me on my birthday. I read it and re-read it when I feel low. Happy Birthday to a friend, for whom I wish the world, a friend who's worthy of all things good in both worlds. Happy Birthday to a friend who's so …

Pantoum – Writer’s Block

  She inscribed letters on to the page, The curl of her a, the bend of her n, They brought reminders, Small, nostalgic ones.   The curl of her a, the bend of her n, Formed phrases and sentences, Small, nostalgic ones, They filled the blank pages.   Phrases and sentences were formed, All in …

Blunt truths

A knife recoiled from the blunt truth. It could not cut at its sharp edges, That poked fun at all the grudges, That I could ever hold.   Poked fun and reminded me, Of all that I could never be, And all that I had yet to escape, And everything beneath the draped.   Lift …

No-man’s land

Someone’s been pulling me away, From everywhere that I’d like to stay. I’d like to remain in this no-man’s territory, That has no leaf, not a single tree.   Pull me away, but not too much, Let me remain just right where, I can spot, Those wonderful, utopian fantasies.   This world should not end …

Thoughts

Thoughts, they lead me on and on, They lead me into passageways, I restrict them not, Catch them not, For they have leeway.   Into the past, into the future, Not in the present, They refuse to dwell, where I wish to. I want to lead my thoughts into Passages I know.   Yet they …

Contradictions

Give me a pen and I will draw, The wind that blows in my face, Cold and comforting. Give me a pen and I will sketch, The hard contours of your hand, Warm and tough. Give me a pen and I will colour, The stars that always smile, Down at me with a sneering face. …

Borders

Crossing borders, we try to see, the many contradictions – two or three, they are not. They are many. for the world is full of humans, all unique. You try to see each one, as an Indian, a Pakistani. a Clever, a Meek. But I tell you, don’t group them, as nations. Borders don’t count, …