Alone. Thirst. Economy.

Pic: Ankita Shreeram

Alone.

Can’t a word stand alone

Before a fullstop?

The way I do

Before the finality of your words.

I teeter

But pride holds me aloft

Your cowardice hems me in

Holding me in place

Unable to move

In any direction but away.

Thirst

We sipped from each other’s minds

Careful not to drink too much

At a single swallow

So the pool would remain deep

Forever.

What I tasted intoxicated me

And I wanted more.

I wanted

To feed my insatiable thirst.

Economy

Careful, lest you say too much

Care too much

Let your love too loose

Orphaned

Unsettled

Aimless

You will disintegrate

Bit by bit

Pieces cast into

Dark, uncaring nothingness

And you will yearn

For the softest echo

For a sign

That you are being heard.