In the Silence of an Owl

In the silence of an owl
a night dreams
as we gather our shadows
going further than we have ever been
Every step a virgin footfall
and around us
a tempest slowly rising

Hands reaching for hands
to hold on to
while thumbs explore lifelines
Words pushed away
to let balmy breaths in
to etch tumultuous tendrils
within fathomless hollows

The storm rages unabated
till the night lets go of her secrets
till glistening beads dot the canopy
till the rising smoke declares a forest fire
till twin sighs escape the spent covers

©Reena Prasad

Fear the shadow

 

Image©Reena Prasad

 

Can you feel the overflow
A shape spreading hungrily on the night street
tip-toeing up from the corners of dim-lit walls
flattened relentlessly
under the busy tread of feet yet inching closer
The dark strokes of desire
at the terminus of outstretched shadows?

Me and my obsession are out on the road
to get to you if you ever step beyond
Even if you don’t, these desires will curl up
into rasping grains of flying sand
to be swung up by the willing shamal
and flung against you from every porthole.

Reena Prasad 30th April 2013

Blue moon

This luminous float I see
teasing sparkles into desires
that have never really
surrendered to tame rust. 

 Beautiful while it sails
A round ship in my fluid darkness
 stealing glances, winking
 in moments that belong to us alone

 we of the old, trusting tribe
 bathing in the light together
 when the tide was high 

 knowing that giving was forever
learning that possession was death
 loving in the pauses
 between conversations
 that never led anywhere 

 flecks of light borrowed from the moon
I still collect them in my dream
 for lighting your eyes when they say things
 with fierce pride and tenderness
 you never required to 

Why do I now smile
when the young and guileless
 sit around waiting for a blue moon.

 not knowing that it is fated to be blue forever
 when their grayness sets in
 and they chide themselves
 for not seeking it out while it was red?

©Reena Prasad  31st August 2012

Wings

 In the stillness of a moonless night

 a thought takes off in search of a fragrance

 flitting noiselessly from the shadow of a tree

 to the bench that once was bathed with love

 No moon unveils itself to show it the way

 to the valley where it had once slept

 among some flowers of hope..

 It wanders up the night sky,

 resting briefly on a floating cloud

 too fragile to bear its mournful weight

 As the night moves towards a silvery dawn

 the orphan returns home

 to the sleepless cove

 from where it often flies

 in search of a lost scent.

© Reena

Night

A little smile basks in its own radiance

finding its mojo away from sunlight

 Small whispers that had lost their way

 in the cacophony of life

 now dreamily float

towards welcome destinations

 A sigh meets its match

 in the alleys of a tender heart

 A nod finds a quiet embrace

 A tune that remained suppressed

 tossed over by more urgent voices

 now breaks into a free melody

 The soul leans back in peace

 resting weary wings and aching feet

 merging into the soothing noises of night

 Worry and hope get engaged in secret dreams

 Petals close gently easing out the drowsy bee

 Night too rests in the gentle arms of sleep.

©Reena

Moonlight

 

A little path leads

 beyond the shadows of tall trees

 where drenched in moonlight, you wait for me

 leaning your back against the hard bark

 and I blend silently into the shadows that pray

 for the moon to gently wane

 so that you see not me, my dearest love

 as I bask in the love that lights up your eyes

 Wait for me, my eager heart

 for though you may leave like the truant breeze

 let me savour this moment sweet

 drag it as long as the clouds linger

 shielding the jealous moonlight

 from falling upon love’s first sight.

©Reena Prasad. May 2012

Scent of a dream

A single white flower

bloomed underneath the silent window

Reaching out with its scented fingers

To where my dreamless world lay asleep

A gentle fragrance of love, of loss

Became a caressing throb

Singing with sweet refrain

through black tresses spread over white clouds

Burying barely veiled desires

I read your poem again

finding my name everywhere

The words which lay cold till now

Burning me with their desire raw

listening as the written words revealed

all the stories that were never meant to be

The yearnings ran deep

shaking all pretenses of sleep

Yet  knowing once again

This night too will come to an end

though away, far away from me,

I try to shut out the insistent strains

of my own sighs and your silence

Love remains beautiful still

but only in a dream

can I be free to whisper a name

blooming red on forbidden stalks

Drenching the humid night sweat

with the scent of a hidden nishagandhi.
©Reena Prasad

Angel

Angel

Deeper, deeper into the darkness
I walk bewildered yet uncaring,
Lost in an inner maze of hard-earned miseries
Brought on by too much love and sharing
The hanging boughs, the whispering notes
Speak to me as if with hope
The moonlight streams gently down
revealing a wistful path ahead
I gather the cold night around myself
Walking towards the familiar dell.

My impatience rustles the fallen leaves
It is the hour when she must alight
Dropping swiftly from her horse
She emerges from the cloak of night
Running, falling, yet wondering at the sight!
Healing angel of mine, I need your glow
I cannot bear the night within my soul.
There she is! My wisps gather strength again
With her hair sweeping the taupe forest floor
She lights my woods with her blazing flames!

I fall on my knees and fervently pray
Even though she appears not to turn my way
Eyes open never to miss a moment
Of her much needed, gentle, sisterly finesse
The thunderous days that lurked around
Seem mere nights before the day,
freshly breaking ground
She swishes her hair, the clouds disappear
Revealing a Hunter’s Moon in a brave new form
The trees fall silent as she spreads
The scent of roses in my teary abscesses.

And as she mounts her snorting steed
I am still here on my grateful knees
Blowing a soft kiss onto the breeze
She floats up gently till I can no longer see
My bleeding wounds have healed themselves
leaving sweet scars of happy moments
My joy, I can feel it rolling down the hill
As morning comes, you too shall be healed
Flowers are nodding as I pray for you
Their softness wiping my tears always true.

The journey we shared has not been in vain
Self-healing angels still live in bruised heavens.

-Reena

My friend, the moon

 

Lying in repose, with sleep in sight
For dreams to come and lighten the night
I spot your bright face, hiding behind a cloud
Beaming at me, like a friend I know
What was said, I no longer can say
But left me with feelings all aglow.

 

Days when the heart is sore
A bitter word or look seals the door
I tell myself, be patient for night will bring
Your smiling face to peep through my door.
And all the poison turns into dessert
As I drink deep from your beautiful soul. 

In early morn, before truth awakens
There is an interlude for you to come
I throw open every window, for your glimpse
There you are! Waltzing with stars galore!
A few moments, we spend in silence
You, me, our reminiscences of yore.

©Reena Prasad 23rd Nov 2010