That Evening (Winter, 2006)
Ronid Chingangbam *
You sleep next to me so sweet and cute
as if nothing had happened that evening
as if tomorrow will be incomplete without you
I stood in the middle of the jammed road
waiting for you walking down the road
as if i will destroy you like a mad dog
The cars kept honking
the rickshaw pullers calling me
to give me a ride to pay them
for their naked winter skin
but i have not been paid
with a little amount of love
that i deserve
It's you who had a dagger to dig me
still it's you who carry it
behind the innocent sleeping face of yours
you do not talk loud
you scold loud with your guts out
as if i am a handful of ashes or cloud
that you have smoked out
You shouted; "don't bring out my insecurities"
but i love you, i cannot face the realities
i forced you to say you will marry me
among my friends who pretended to be busy
your clothes are ironed and fine
like leaves after a heavy rainfall in spring
your hair is longer than mine
but never blew away by mid winter wind
your friends sound like princes and shine
but i sound like beggar in my finest clothes
we walked down the street after the dinner
a chilled and windy winter night
with the Christmas stars everywhere
and your warm hand inside my pocket
you asked me to write a poetry of Christmas stars
when i said i wanted to hang a star in my balcony
for the first time i been asked by you
and you here dozing off like a baby
showing off your tongue
after a hard play in the Sun
And i am writing it down
before i remember my town
which often makes me sound
like a working class farmer poet.
* Poem written by Ronid Chingangbam (Akhu) . He is from Dept. of Physics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi . You can contact the poet at ronidchi(at)gmail(dot)com . This poem was webcasted on January 11, 2009.
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