The beautiful gaze
exude from the early
bright sunrise in the color
of golden vibrant display
greeting with gracious
shining through
my empty soul
with a guiding light
brighten up my spirit
that bring hope and joy
in the darkness of gloomy days
with the presence
that I am embrace
filled with gratifying
of God’s grace

tell me dear I want to hear
where were you last night

trailing stars and meteorites
moonlight in your hair

singing up the driveway
dancing through the door

laughter in your bones my dear
eyes sparkling in the night

so who made your shoes go tapping
that tango up the stairs

who touched the feathers of your lips
and filled your voice with song

but now you are asleep my love
safe from winter frosts

your smile so wide you cannot hide
you tango’d up the stairs

The sounds came from the east
Like a festival drum beats
And came from the west
Nearer like an acrobatic drum beats
Sooner came from north and south
Just as custom drum beats for the emperors
And met at the central;
Whirling in my eardrums with a forcible sign
Everybody scattered like tatters
They ran into one another in a relentless pressure,
They made their paths on the thorns
As they rushed with whatever they could hold
to a faraway land.

She Who Shadow Walks

I was in a place of fright
Listening to sounds of night

Finally I heard the door squeak
Only to see a drunken freak

He came so close to my bed
I felt the impending dread

A mask covered his face
In his hand was some mace

A knife was in his other hand
Poised and ready to land

I moved in time to avoid his blows
Feeling thoughts that really shows

He caught me below the bed
Pushing the knife into my head

Crying and screaming loud and clear
Hoping someone would hear

Sad slide down the door
Click of the lock,
The thump of my head against the floor
I am so tired of wanting,
Always wanting more
Tears grow cold on my lashes,
Cheeks flushed and hot
The perfect shade of “rejected rouge”.
Its the most comforting punch in the gut,
The swooning passion of loving too much

I would love to hold you tenderly,
Have something quiet and sweet
Yet how am I meant to do that?
When I’m screaming at you to love me?

My soul should have been joyous yet I could only feel sorrow
Like how do I deserve the best tomorrow?
I left you all in your deepest pain
I wasn't there to support you when you endured growing pains
I lost myself in a sea of self hatred
Always detached and heavily sedated

I used to convince myself that as long as I didn't have to feel it it wouldn't be felt
No sense of pride nor self
Empowerment was sitting to high on the self
For I allowed my worth to be determined by every one else

We are the adivasis,
Those Mundals and Santals,
Who had lived in India
Before Dravidians did,
Before Aryans came through passes.

We are the adivasis,
Who by Aryans were
Called Rakshasas,
Who by Aryans were
Slaughtered to their whims and fancy.

We are the adivasis,
Like Ekalavya,
Who by Arya Drona was
Disabled to their delight,
To glorifiy Arjuna to our plight.

Its slender vine reaches up
toward the open window,

fuchsia petals grace the room
covered in silent sunlight.

I am alone in this moment,
beguiled with a delicate color

that offers its beauty,
whispers from the lonely shelf,

then slightly bows,
its softness the only sound

in the room.

The things I kept I put away for a time.
Photographs, and other small items that clung to grief.
I kept them at a distance. A kind of shelter
until time made them possible to face again.

I realized, after the immediacy of pain and loss,
that I wasn’t going to let it be about being empty
or deserted, for which I’ve been grateful,
but that it would be about the love that suggested
I put those things away in the first place.