Phone-call to Death

Death came face to face again 

Today, after yesterday,

And I was all alone with you 

Crushed under a tree, 

Moonlight met your arms

But I heard there, just an eternity ago;

four lives disappeared 

And a broken-hearted loneliness

lay lifeless on a stretcher 

somewhere in a busy mall

Where I was talking to the stars

"Last few days", "wrong turn",  "last wish"

Phrases jumped out from shopping bags, 

Taxi driver's swears, random books in a cafe

message from the gods; your kisses

Yes there was a walk, 

where fingers carved out names

On breezes from the past

Yes, there was a wedding 

Where music of two heartbeats 

Recited sacred hymns

And no, there are no forts built

Where empty bodies sleep

On ancient tombs of loss

So, no sleep, no time, no guts, no glory

All and forever more, there are cascades of pain

Pouring into emptiness, filling nooks of need 

Curving and bending, heaving and smiling

Measuring time's fickleness in mango momentos 

Those smiles stamped half moon bites

I made a phone call in the midst of it all

And said, still alive, still breathing

If there is still a tomorrow

I will meet you here