FLOWERS AND SILENCES

THE DIM DARKNESS-THE DIFFUSED LIGHT-DIMNESS OF ONE MERGING INTO THE OTHER-
IMPARTING MORE LENGTH TO THE LONG TREES THAT ARE STANDING LIKE STRETCHED OUT
SHADOWS WEARING STARS IN THEIR HAIR- SILENCE IS IMPARTING MORE DEPTH TO THE DARKNESS
IN THIS ADVAITA WHERE DARKNESS IS MERGED INTO SILENCE, MY MIND WAKES UP,
NOW NOT ONLY SOUND BUT EVEN A RAY OF LIGHT IS A VIOLENT DISTURBANCE TO THE PROUD NESS
OF PEACE- IN SUCH MOMENTS DEEP TRUTHS UNVEIL THEMSELVES-
NOW I REALISE IT IS NOT SOUND BUT IN SILENCE MELODY LIVES-

I AM BORN OUT OF FLOWERS AND SILENCES- WHILE PASSING MY HAND BRUSHED AGAINST A FLOWER,
I ASKED 'ARE YOU BRUISED?' "ME OR YOU" SMILING, THE FLOWER QUESTIONED BACK- THE HEART
OF MY PEN BROKE AND SPLIT BLOOD;- I DO NOT KNOW WHICH PAPER CAN BEAR THIS PEN-

IN THE GIGANTIC SILENCES OF FORESTS WHICH TOUCH THE BLUE SKIES, THE CARPENTER BIRD PECKS
AT THE TRUNKS OF GREAT TREES WHICH ECHO, FAR REACHING SOUNDS-
WHAT CAN HE DO AMONG THE TINY CROTONS?

I ATE DAYS LIKE FRUITS-NOW I EAT DROPS OF TEARS LIKE GRAPES-FRIGHTENED BY THE SUN
TOOK REFUGE UNDER SHADES-SITTING ON THE PAVEMENT EATING DREAMS FROM EYES LIKE ICE-CREAM
WITH SPOONS- MEASURING  MY LIFE WITH DARK EVENINGS- I DISTRIBUTED MY WEALTH
ONCE WITH METERS, NOW I SCATTER WITH HANDFULS MY FUTURE
LETTING IT FLY IN ALL DIRECTIONS-

I WASHED MY HEART IN TEARS AND DRIED IT OVER POETRY- WALKED PAST
WEARING PEOPLE ON MY BODY LIKE SHAWLS-
IN THE ASSEMBLIES OF FLAMES; IN COUNTRIES ABROAD I RAISED MY GYPSY VOICE
AND SANG MIXING EARTH AND SKY-
THIS COUNTRY IS THE GRAVEYARD OF MY GENIUS- HOWEVER FAST I WALK
THE DISTANCE REMAINS THE SAME. THIS LAND IS THIRSTY FOR MY BLOOD,
IT IS SNORING IN THE LITTLE SHADES OF PIGMY TREES-
I PICKED MY PEN AND DIPPED IT IN THE SUN
TO WRITE A SUMMER SONG FOR MY NATION-

~Seshendra~

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