Poetry 2017 Shortlist Bijoyini Maya

To You or Not To You...

Plunged...soaked... “Hello stranger”

(Honey I am home)... are you?

Thou mind is a wanderer... home is nihilism

Parched throat from a riverbed.

Did you know Veronica decided to die?

(I was just wondering would you like lemonade or tea?)

My mind is screaming like your laughter

(This news rang in my head all noon... read?)

Your gestures were pinning on to my mind

(Yet to read, biscuits or chops with tea?)

(Today was a wonderful busy day)

With her around, your desires come alive, don't they?

(Oh is it... what did you do?)

(Too many deadlines... did the plumber come?)

Yes and he couldn't fix my mind, so vent his anger on the pipe

(You will be happy to know all taps are fixed... get some rest)

While I devise my disappearing act

(Glad... what’s cooking for dinner?)

Wish I could cook you if I didn’t love you so much

(The usual... your favourites...)

(You make my life!)

And you fill the bed with deathly shadows of unknown women.

Saw a whale yesterday and crooned the baby whale...

(Will take a short nap)

(Do that)

Had heard somewhere... “If you believe

in love at first sight you never stop looking.”