Sukrita Paul Kumar

Connections

Thank you, Amma
for the moon, thank you

I had stood
stretched
longer than my life

stiff on my toes
heels aching
heavy
with the unexpressed

seeking
the silver moon
carrying a million
in its orbit

Greetings to you
my dear
for walking out of
childhood dreams
for unfreezing
those wrinkles,
shedding tears
and smiling,
rising with the new sun
a lease of life

not an illusion
nor a trap of compassion
a mirage in the golden sands,
firm-edged love
twinkling through
round spectacles
with copper rims

food for the starved

Thank you Amma
for carrying the cross

our cross
vibrating on your lean body
through so many homes
and alleys, backlanes
and galis
in transit
always
stepping in and out
of dreams

all those
moons and stars
toss and turn
in the universe
waiting for you, Amma
to connect them
with us
sleepwalking
on the earth.