the power of alone

hor ki mangna mein rab kolo
ik khair manga tere dum di

miles of road, travelled carefully,
bags tied together, keys and locks to keep things safe.
mountains scaled and rivers crossed.
trees photographed and people smiled at.
clocks moved, ahead and behind,
as they try to keep up with the sun. 
platforms chased, steps that collected beads of sweat,
drinks carelessly drowning in the pit of my stomach
stamped passports, moneyed purses, torn-up baggage tags,
breathless kisses in moonlit cities,
buttered poetry and ignored symptoms. 
i travelled the world, 
without knowing my heart was wandering too.
with no one looking after it.

wild flower

I'm coming home,
I'm oh so low.
I need you baby,
Come on let's go.

like syrupy honey, mixed with laughter,
our eyes meet. 
like chocolate sauce, poured on hips,
and whipped cream,
licked away by thirsty, foolish lips.
the scent of vanilla
behind an unlistening ear.
and the taste of sweet surrender
in between interlaced fingers.
like caramel promises, and cinnamon kisses,
when you breathe deeply on my neck.
and strawberries dipped in cream, 
when you lead me inside you. 
like the rush of rum in the daiquiri, 
when your hands walk around
the orange orchards of my back.
biting down on pillows,
as if they were cloudy marshmallows. 
dark chocolate in your eyes, as you taste me,
wanting your cake, and having me too. 
come over sugar, let's cook up a storm. 
and if it's too sweet to handle,
we'll save the leftovers for a midnight snack. 

bizarre and fierce

a split second.
you and me, 
in a storm, wind rushing by us
the ground shakes,
and the oceans rumble their acceptance.

you and me,
a heady cocktail
of music and words,
guitars and sighs,
with a garnish of wishes on top.
 
when you stopped by the side of the road,
to listen to a tune that reminded you of me,
i wrote poems on every piece of paper i could find,
just so they won't show up in my eyes when i look at you.

you and me, 
as seen through the eyes of imagination,
we are the time that runs
even when the clocks stop working.

when our goodbye comes,
let's make it quick.
we will only have a split second.

an evening walk, more epiphanic than the stars

 but if i let you go, i will never know, 
what my life would be, holding you close to me. 

big words, thrown around casually. 
expectations for instance.
so many syllables,
heavy to carry around.
they don't fit into my purse, i need a backpack.
and when the straps dig into my skin,
i ask myself why i don't travel light.
all my life can fit into two suitcases, 
but your words are baggage. 
anywhere i may roam,
where i lay my head is home.
when you roved around my head, 
were you looking for my heart? 
i've left it behind, it's in a box that i didn't pack. 
and if you thought i take it with me everywhere, 
you thought wrong. 
lying low, lying and lowly,
you were meant to rescue me. 
and instead, here we are,
with nothing, nowhere, all at once. 

i want expectations

the depths of my sorrow, 
at the bottom of glasses
and in between the winds of smoke.
at the end of every message
at the sigh after every call.
what is a life without hassles?
do you have no mountain to climb,
or are your mountains not as tall as mine? 
yours is the kingdom, yours is the glory,
and mine is the worship. 
blind, of the believer kind.
would you ever ask the sun to dim its shine? 
you'd rather get under cover, shield your eyes,
give your parched soul a drink of water,
take a deep breath and give in.
the oasis of my love is what you are looking for,
but you won't know it as you wander the desert
until the sands welcome you home.  
i will still be here, with my soul in my hands.
a present, but not an offering.
a confession, but not a crime.