As imperceptibly as grief

As imperceptibly as Grief

The Summer lapsed away –

Too imperceptible at last

To seem like Perfidy –

A Quietness distilled

As Twilight long begun,

Or Nature spending with herself

Sequestered Afternoon –

The Dusk drew earlier in –

The Morning foreign shone –

A courteous, yet harrowing Grace,

As Guest, that would be gone –

And thus, without a Wing

Or service of a Keel

Our Summer made her light escape

Into the Beautiful.

Emily Dickinson

Clouds

Cotton soft

and fluffy white.

Floating in the sky

Like jasmine blooms

in a river of turquoise.

Enchanting like a snowy rose,

and plumage of a swan,

Rolling over the sky

Slowly and sometimes swiftly

Like a herd of wild horses ,

galloping untamed over blue lands,

with manes waving in the wind

Like white flames

free and unbound.

From Asbah Khan

My spring

By Amna Ameer

You took apart

The crocked edges

Of bare branches

Ushering in a spring

Aware of your shortcomings

Unscathed by the hurt

You once again

Embraced life

The way it is your right

You moved ahead

Without remorse

Because it is a part of life

Conflict and pain

The ability to recover

And forget

Or forgive

Yet here I am

Not vengeful

Just curious

And vulnerable

Somewhat compromised

My mind now only thinks

Of ways to blame me

There are six stages of grief

Last is depression

Can you tell me how long it lasts?

Because for you

It seems to be over

I just don’t know

When this feeling will pass

Whatever that will be left

Will be at what cost?

Will it cost me my sanity

My sanctity

Or my will to survive?

For now I must take it

Just as it is

Grave or a house

Once the hurt decays

Some flowers may flourish too

From within the debris

It is alright

If my love was collateral damage

It isn’t the first time

It has happened

And I won’t have anyone to blame

But the crevices of life’s plans

That take away my words

And gift me

Beautiful silences

That are camouflaged in bruises

Now can you see me?

Compiled by SK