Saturday, April 21, 2012

With Love, From Pakistan

Cardboard corners 
wrinkled in white 
sewn at seams, 
blue ink blotting 
tainted with frail fingerprints 
I saw my name on it 
in restless ruckus 
searched for the sender's. 

The address read "Lahore, Pakistan" 
the lull lilting into a smile 
the stitches cut with a surgeon's precision 
gave way to a blue gloss 
galvanizing the box. 

It was a riot of colours 
ornate objects 
in yellow, green, red and white 
a pretty memento 
tucked in a corner, 
a kurta too 
with pink edges 
made its presence felt, 
the smirk turned wider 
till my jaw jibed like a joker's 
while my eyes hurt 
with a quivering question. 

I wondered only if the postman 
at the door didn't give a lamentable look 
while handing the parcel 
sheltered scorn spilling over 
from his soul, 
guarded by a bulwark 
just like the barrage across the border 
that might have been the most momentous monument 
raised for the purpose of peace 
I wondered why? 


First published in Poetry 24 here

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