Kinetoscope [ft. men]

 

 

Late to play, I rush to him

Allahu la ilaha—the rhythmic murmur begins

he blows hurriedly on his restive child

Climbing trees, eating muddy leaves—I frisk, I fall 

Back at home,

solace lingers unbound

 

A wrinkled, disquiet hand 

my grip gently placating his

A hospital bed basking in sunlight

Dada’s intent gaze—reading mine

Asked me not to stay,

said no goodbyes

 

In the garage of my ancestral home, 

laid a loved one’s coffin 

A moment of unassailable grief

slightly eased

Untouched by words—

my palm, gently squeezed

 

Jolted out of deep slumber, clenching the sheet

my unbridled outpour,

his unflinching peace

Indifference abrim in eyes

what once was love

Now misery in disguise

 

An unveiled embrace 

amid accusing stares

In the distance, flying machines 

humming away

years of conditioning up in the air

– a white flag unabashedly waves

 

Sitting on the bench- a boy in love

awash with conundrum, 

his vulnerability

unwillingly tethered

reluctance giving way, my fingers touch his face—

he crumbles.