Stripped

The heron clutches the edge of an abandoned dhow
a gleam in its eye as a slow ripple forms

Cuddling wisps of clouds edge near
to orange splotches of a sunny prelude

Cold trees turn their spiky crowns
away from snow clumps on grassy lashes

Death breathes down the nearest bare neck
standing a lot closer than sleep

A fallen angel sheds its archaic wings
and hangs itself as a white dendrite

The fake morning glow vanishes
in another swirling white mist

A tree looks pointedly at imaginary blooms
its nudity grabbing at snow flurries.

©Reena Prasad 26th jan 2013

To be published in scaling heights

Heat loss

 

Cold shivers and foggy mornings,
creep into my warm home.
Tiny crevices between shuttered windows turn traitor,
letting winter roam.
Arresting my buoyant dreams
like snow flakes on a rising dough.

All the warmth of night’s embrace,
now lost to the icy draught.
Like a warm cover pulled away
turning my toes into wintery slots.
A cool current in a summery sea,
A vacant imprint lies next to me.

Hugging at the still warm pillow,
snuggling into a familiar scent
I try to hold on to his heat ,
to prolong awhile the cosy spell
The shirt at the foot of the bed,
now covers me as well.
  ©Reena Prasad