The Unwanted

I have the sketch
my palace’ plan
Despair as plinth
Hunger the wall
Ignominy my door
Punishment is roof
I pledged myself for a piece of sky
A pinch of soil.

I am rich in flaws
Warm lies
Incompetence
shades of pain
Flavour of wants
The addiction to emptiness,
My existence is fun.

Moon alights on my roti
Sun blinks through the dim lamp
Rain pampers me from roof to floor
Dark-nights guard my house of joy
I enjoy fake smiles
Your compassion,
I celebrate every defeat
To conquer the war of deception.
I am awestruck at
The false reflection of my faithfulness
In your mirror
I relish the poisonous fruit you offer.

I have digested ocean full of poison
Swallowed fear of
Corona and Amphan,
Keep my active days in safe
I will return
With the wind
Change of season
Forgotten dreams
Migrant birds,

Now ready on railway tracks
To walk towards oblivion
The territory of unknowns
I have taken a holy bath
With tears of the earth
Getting anointed
The emperor of my dead island.

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© ® Rashmi Mohapatra

A pinch of soil.

My existence is fun.

I relish the poisonous fruit you offer.

Swallowed fear of

Corona and Amphan,