A dark poem of anguish and longing, by Harinder, exclusively for Different Truths.

He didn’t know where to go 
The day she said, “NO.”
As he closed his eyes, he could only see her
And when he opened them, she seemed even closer

He tried to touch her in that flow
He wanted to cry high and low
The day she said, “NO”.
He looked at the sky and begged it to rain
And when it started pouring, he also cried in pain
As his salty tears touched his lips, he, with stifled cries
Tried to vent out his grief through his swollen eyes

Like a forlorn traveller in the snow
He didn’t know where to go
The day she said, “NO”.

And then he stood at the seashore,
Looking at the vastness of the sea
His heart was hit by emotions hard, 
Just as the waves strike the shore with great fury
He wanted to live; he wanted to die
He wanted to know what he wanted and why
As a sloth is caught by a tiger’s paw
He felt his heart was caught in betrayal’s jaws
He lacked energy; his mind was working slow
He didn’t know where to go
The day she said, “NO”.

He took out her picture and his
Tears fell into her eyes 
It seemed as if both were crying
And soon, he realised
That she must have had a reason to say so
But he didn’t know where to go
The day she said, “No”.

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Harinder Cheema

Harinder Cheema is a renowned poetess and an internationally published author. Her novel, ‘The Temple Stop’ received ‘The Best Book of the Year Award 2020’ by Aghaaz, Author in You. She is the co-author of 17 poetry anthologies. Her short stories have been published in the coffee table books. Her articles have been published in various international magazines, and she has also received many prestigious honours and awards in the field of literature.