Naana

I have seen her grow up in memories of the past.

I have seen her fight her memories for too long.

I have seen her cry in front of a mirror that did’t recognise her.

I have seen her being beaten up black and blue.

I have seen her strip and not remember whether her negligee was hers at all.

I have seen her trying to drink the wrong drink.

I have seen her in the shadows crying for she was scared of the darkness.

I have seen her write and then forget what she had written.

I have seen her being flung back and forth trying to solve the mystery of her existence. 

Her name is Karen.

She died on the 4th of July 1978.

  

“Vanessa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Vanessa…………………”

my name is Vanessa.

I am Karen’s granddaughter.

I have seen her.
and helped her accept death.

But she is truly strong.. for that old a lady.

“Vanessa… could you get my reading glasses.”

“yes Nana… “

I took her glasses, brushed them off and kept them on the armrest of her armchair.

I know that she doesn't read.
But i do know where she likes her glasses to be.

The Purge

There are no more lies to be told

No more love to be throttled,

Drizzle on me some more,

And i shall have you bottled.

Kept in a cellar,

Brewed for years….

Shadowed from the rest.

I shall be dancing naked, 

In sweet revenge --

For thats what i do best.

One for yesterday

one for tomorrow,

Every drop of you i shall seal..

In cryptic letters to the Almighty.

And to the darkness?

A poisoned meal.

I will bury your essence 

In the mystic caves -

While you toss and turn in your sleep...

Not one shall remember the Demon in you.

No more shall i weep.

But I shall remember

the winter months-

echoes of despair on frozen lands...

They might.

But i shall never forget.

The color of my blood on your hands…

They think i am evil,

The townspeople..

And on full moon nights i switch-

The loving wife of you by day--

And by night,

Your secret witch….

What is truly evil remains untold.

What is really said,

Is a lie...

Only the walls bear witness to the monster inside,

And darling... so do i....

The Ravens

Do you hear them not? 

Where the earth does shake?

Graves all rise, confused and distraught..

The ravens are awake!

He saw the silhouettes.

Heard the bells of doom.

Chained to his bride,

The solemn groom.

No one was at the church when it happened.

Just the crew,

And some cake.

There were lights galore,

Crystals and more,

But no one knew the ravens did wake

They stepped forward,

Fell in formal lines,

Monotony recited their vow.

The priest was bored—

But in the end,

The prick finished with a gallant bow.

And so— his job was done.

Such a performance!

The audience truly smitten.

There were tears of joy—

In every eye,

No wonder no one noticed them hidden.

They had all risen— to bless the newlyweds:

Too unaware to know——

The sacred vows were nothing but lines,

On a popular daily show.

Then came the wrath!

And then came the vengeance!

Defiance of the old by the new..

Then there was bloodshed,

Broken bones,

And the scattered heads of a few.

“We shall reunite”, they said.

“We shall conquer again,

with new vows and rules—-

And this time prepare 

To behead and destroy,

The monarchy of fools.”

“Fools who think “life” is greater than death,

Fools who repeat mistakes—-

of putting “life” on a pedestal

And not on burning stakes”

The forces promised that Death shall win,

In a battle that shall make—

Men and fools tremble with “life”

For the ravens are awake!

Suicidal

The walls never close in..

The doors do not shut on their own..

Every other mistake, isn’t sin

Every other soul isn’t lone..

The waters aren’t always so deep

Words may be bottled , never tinned

Crimes don’t sweat out with every sleep

All candles don’t blow out with every wind..

I have lit a candle..

And I know not why..

It sways with every breeze

That caressed the mighty sky

It turns so pale at dawn

Even sees it blue

Golden yellow at noon..

On my face that simmers true..

It blends with the morning glow..

And dances in its rainbow light

But bathes in silver waves..

To soothe the ravenous night..

But I don’t feel its warmth anymore..

Just the cold breeze that sways its flames

The light hurts my eyes as they close

Against the burning blur of familiar names

The sun sets early in the blue

The clouds aren’t black, just grey..

Its more magic than pain..

For I feel suicidal today..