by Saikat Das
There isn’t much to say
No, I won’t keep
The phone away
Stay on the line
And listen
To the void
That connects
Without a fuss
You are still there
On the other end of the line
Wanting me to break the ice
But I am fine not talking
No, I am not joking
Fine that I don’t feel the difference
Fine that I can carry on
Without raising my voice
Well, you may be sobbing
That’s how it turns out
After the steam runs out
After the highs and the lows
No, I shall not play the clown
Nor walk the tight rope
With a secret frown
Played that game all too long
Now I am just a pause
Sort of a comma,
Close to a full stop
Just leave me my wings
I won’t fly
I won’t give
Even a try
Will hang on
You may go on playing
The snake-charmer’s flute
But the snake shan’t raise its hood
It’s not dead, just not in mood
You need badly
A mouthful of air
So, come dear,
Come closer to my ear
No, there’s nothing to say
No more games to play
We are, where we were
Only it seems a long long way
Let us go then
You and I
When the call is about to die
Let us drown ourselves
In this silly good
Nowhere
Between the two ends
Of our phones
When there’s still the chill
In this February air.
