Adieu

The long day seeps
From the empty sixth month sky
Noon falls strangely silent into the eve
It's raining black cherries now
And seeing this the windows cry
A tube light flickers in faint
The smoke from the wick intoxicates
Fame casts a shadow of the melting drops
The molten transparent turns white
Like the only strand of hair
Left loose from my tight clasp bun
I hear the bell and open the door
To find a fresh string of carefully strung buds
Unblossomed mogra clad in green
Wondering if I must pick it up
I bend down to hear footsteps down the stairs
The gait sounding familiar I pick up the fragrant gift
I come in and sink in the sofa...
Place the string on my chest
Inhaling it deep I forget everything
My name and his and the memories
For a miniscule moment I feel free
I get up and fidget in the kitchen
Come by the curtains swinging crazy through the windy night
Raise a toast, it's masala chai...
Our masala chai...
Raindrops dry on my sweat covered face
Steam from the cup hazes the view
I see a figure sitting calmly in crazed downpour below
Cross-legged, meditative, sure...
I try to comprehend the seat
and fathom the time, the reason.
He tried, I think, now I must do...
I let go... Run down watch him stand to bid adieu
I hug, hold on, cling and try ...
We struggle to breathe while we cry
but some things were not meant to be
We promised we'd love but set the 'US' free
I watch him fade in torrential drift
Walk back home tad more swift
Drenched in tears the tube turns on
Destiny prevails, life moves on...
- Prajakta Sathe