Only You

 

So you are ignoring me today?

Yet, I shall continue to disturb you.

Do you think you can drive me away?

Do you think I have no clue?

No clue as to why you seem so desolate, 

Maybe, if I dig my toenail into your gritty bed,

Would it be a strategy too late?

If I stole all of your shells instead?

Don't be ridiculous, you are no metaphor,

My love is real, it always was.

Tell who is that meddler?

Our story can never have a pause.

Only you can control my darting feet,

with a mighty strong wave,

Only you can save me from the August heat,

Those cool ripples I crave.

Will, you let me go so easily,

Would you throw me in the heartless winter?

Will you dodge all responsibility breezily?

As if ours was a fling, which does not linger.

Niharika Prasad

If Love is a Mirage

 Amidst traffic lights, a glare of blinding light,

I was hurled right at your heavenly abode.

A moment we were so close; a moment of delight,

Yet you chose, to throw me back on the road.

 

You blurred the moment in my mind,

Dispelling it with a blinding light.

It was an experience, one of its kind,

I felt nothing, till my blood dripped, red and bright.

 

One fine day, when I swam too deep,

Almost engulfed by a tall, translucent tide.

Monstrous torrents, into the air, did leap,

Threatening me with their pride.

 

The salty water gushed into my face,

I almost gave up, tired to fight anymore.

Thrusting myself into its embrace,

Yet dumped I was, right back at the shore.

 

You must have watched over me,

When I found myself, amidst impeccable white walls.

So many drugs to cure me, you see,

My fingers trembled; every memory now appalls.

 

And when that horrid one time; I almost choked,

Gasping, I clutched at thin air,

I do not know what might have invoked,

You gallantly saved me, at each time of despair.

 

They say she feels too much, she talks too much,

She laughs too loud, they say.

What is my fault that you made me such?

What comes to my heart, I just say.

 

I now seek solace in the cold-hearted winter,

It probes my heart with its icy finger,

It carves it slowly, like an edge of a splinter;

Cutting away any emotions that might still linger.

 

Maybe my heart is too vestigial,

It perceives too much; it flutters in vain.

Maybe this time, hold me for real,

If love is a mirage, then save me once again.

 

                                                                                                                Niharika Prasad

Faith

They call me an atheist,

as I do not raise, nor fold, my palms in a prayer

Well, if palms were engraved with a certain destiny

Why would the limbless pray, in times of despair?

They call me an atheist,

as I do not mark out the days, to dress us both in grandiose

It is just that I do not want to impose

A choice of decorations, that I myself did suppose.

On those days that I did decide to celebrate,

I would not dare fool you, with a pious attire,

I would not ring any bells,

As surely he can't be deaf; the creator of the earth, air, water, and fire.

I feel no need to confess my sins,

Could there be any that you would not know?

I would not sing out my heart's desire

I would not ask you to show me which way to go.

Does one ask for the sun to rise, 

Or does one ask for the stars to shine bright?

Certain things are just meant to be

At their own time; just as the day and night.

If you throw me into an abyss

I would close my eyes and comply,

assuming, that you are right behind me,

I would think that you are teaching me how to fly.

Behind every creation of yours, there is magic

and behind every magic, there are you

And as true faith is believing

I feel no need, to pray to you.

                                                                                                                           Niharika Prasad

   

The Sea

You seem furious today, lashing cold waves at me,

which emerge as tentacles, so menacing,

Like a giant octopus, hidden beneath the sea, 

But then ours is a love, and not just a fling.

I know you are not ruthless, 

It is just your temper, you are so unpredictable,

But that does not make me love you any less,

I would be bored if you were more stable.

I remember the hot and humid days,

when you would gently caress my toes,

with cool tides, braving the blaze,

playfully teasing me; I suppose.

I remember when you were too frisky,

your pounding waves, crashing against the hill.

While others found your depths too risky,

I knew my love, you would never be still.

You would nudge my sole with a broken shell, 

You would splash my hair, across my face,

Blinding me, so I could not see well,

all I could feel, was your embrace.

My heart would almost skip a beat,

When you would topple me with a giant wave,

But I know, you are too sweet,

You would send another wave to my rescue, to save.

I remember your salty taste, as I swam,

As you push me away, I swim closer, 

But you know how stubborn I am,

You know you have to surrender.

For you and me, we are the same,

Mysterious, wild and free.

These wild tides, I would not blame,

These tantrums make you more beautiful, you see.

Niharika Prasad