Poetry 2014 Longlist, Janaki Nagaraj

SCORNED

Silence so deafening                                                             
The deep chasm
The rough edge,
Cuts deep.
Heart, fragile, bleeds
The soul, scraped bare
Stripped off its layers
Fallen in disgrace.
Once, the gentle whispers of love
Now, menacing and harsh
Once, the delicate touch of caress
Scalds my skin now.
The silken soft folds
Once reminiscence to our lovemaking
Now is a bed of thorns
Witness to forced coupling.
Once the tears of ecstasy
 Now, with contempt blurs my vision
Is this the life I dreamt?
With love had pledged submission.