Menu

Reunion

by Sunaina Jain

Sunaina Jain’s poem traverses the feelings of the speaker as she throws away the vestiges of propriety and hypocritical social norms by discarding a failed marital relationship. The rain has been used as a motif to wash away the negativity of her married life and embrace life-affirming beauty surrounding her, helping restore her lost self.

This monsoon,
the plush rains will not fail me
This monsoon,
my tears will not merge
with the raindrops

The first drizzle on an otherwise sultry day
The first drop, pure and pristine
kisses the top of my upper lip
I fish out the tip of my tongue
and lick it…
moistens my palate
after long…
With each swing of my hammock
I ascend to the height of bliss
The branches of the upright, regal Gulmohar
dance and sway gently with the
rhythm of pitter-patter
A deep breath….
and the musky scent of cape jasmine in the hedge
with its magnanimous white appearance
fills the core of my being
This monsoon,
the rains will wash away the grime,
the muck off everything

I feel like a guest of honour today
The downpour serves as a welcome drink,
inviting me to the main course
of simple joys and relaxing moments
The drought of unfulfilled hopes and expectations
ends with the onset of this summer rain…
as I celebrate the Anniversary of Separation
with him…
But a reunion with life!

Sunaina Jain has recently completed her Ph.D. (English) from Panjab University and teaches English at MCM DAV College, Chandigarh. Apart from her passion for teaching, she likes to dip her pen in the colours of poetry and short story writing. Her poems have featured in journals –  Criterion, Galaxy, Langlit, Dialog, Spark magazine and South Asian Ensemble. Her short stories have been published on the blog of Out of Print magazine and Indian Ruminations.
  1. A common emotion expressed with uncommon felicity and rhythm. The heart rises with the narrator in the sheer bliss of freedom and oneness with nature.

Read previous post:
The Annual Rendezvous

Kavya and Nikesh travel to Coonoor each year for the rains, to keep a pact going. Parth Pandya’s story tells...

Close