An evocative poem by Dr Jyothsnaphanija on music and love – exclusively for Different Truths.

Thick plainness as a soda
Ice like migraine
Slowing down thoughts
As a relief
I find
Fingers covered in sandalwood paste.
Half of it is wiped away with water, tingling,
Listening to kajri
I think of scrubbing fingers harshness in your passionate writings on
Pomegranate skin.
yellow
For an hour, twittering
I splash water to wipe the thickness on the pupils.
I open my eyes fully to read you.
Then I find the kajri has ended.

 
Glossary:
Kajri: Indian semi-classical composition.

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Dr Jyothsnaphanija

Dr Jyothsnaphanija teaches English Literature at ARSD College (University of Delhi), India. Her first poetry collection Ceramic Evening was published in 2016. Her poems most recently have appeared and are forthcoming in The Handy, Uncapped Pen, Wishbone Words, The Hopper, Bosphorus Review of Books and others.