Friday, December 26, 2008

Mon Amour..

Pause a while, beloved city. Wait for me to catch up, catch my breath as the time dissolves like smoke in thin air. You disappear behind alleys, across streets of concrete, between yellow taxis and peeling paints of black on walls. You flicker behind old moldy buildings, patched together with postings, windows painted garish and people trudging towards made-believe destinations. Linger closer on nondescript nights when cold hands seek earthen bhars of cha and drink in the squalor of the metropolis and the repeating hum of life. I have walked with you in muted dreams when the street lights have glowed orange and as I stepped on my shadow, my thoughts formed without effort, without meaning, without shape and the dreamscape grew dimmer as I try to hold you back.

You gave me love, moments unreflected, run-of-the-mill poetry written behind stray pages jealously hidden, bruises hidden behind practised smiles, mindless joys, fear and fever, aimless days when the limitless sky was just a tease. I have seen you ignore me as I walked down, a filler of sorts, jostling against hundreds like me. Seen your love when smiles doodle across my face just because. And mixed in the wasting afternoons, sordid with hooting monotony of everyday life, your derision at my mediocrity...

So pause awhile beloved city, pause till I catch up, catch my breath and you take me in your fold, in your arms with your clamor, and your peace, your moody blues or calico days of reeling splendor...

10 comments:

What's In A Name ? said...

"your derision at my mediocrity..."

Who dareth, poetess ??

Noisy Autist said...

smitten by this city... who isn't? and it also takes back, mockingly, what's hers.

and you bring back old memories regarding this blog, lady.

Anonymous said...

"You disappear behind alleys, across streets of concrete, between yellow taxis and peeling paints of black on walls"

I love these lines beacuse they remind me of all those times that I've escaped my parents' fighting to talk a walk outside at night and what has comforted me is the little nooks and crannies, the smoke, the grease, the dinginess of the city.

Madhuri said...

The Indian city! Masterfully done Antigona, its real and its beautiful, that's one rare oxymoron :)!

AtomicGitten said...

Loved they way you captured the grays and the colours all in the same canvas. I feel like I took a walk through a city. :D

Nimo said...

I read your blog. Some are brilliant.... brilliant enough for me to be thoroughly tempted to indulge plagiarism.

Please continue to write... more often if possible.

The Wizard said...

Back to haunt you. Brilliant!!

Antigone said...

@ WIAN- :) you have too much faith in my poetics

@ N.Autist- true. I can't rest till I am back :)

@Ki- and I love the lines you write.

@Madhuri- you know, I really look forward to your comments. makes my post complete.

@ Shree- hey you, thanks. you, the greater craftsman...craftswoman...

@Nimo- :D nah, you are way too nice. thank you...do come back.

@ sayan- :) back? but I dnt think you ever left.

little boxes said...

Just came visiting this lovely space of yours...loved it.will keep coming now.this is a beautiful post about a beautiful place where i keep losing and finding my heart...kudos

Gypsy said...

aaaah, this is sooo good.