Leena’s passionate poem expresses a lover’s yearning, transcending physical realms and expressing unspoken desires, in the Special Feature, exclusively for Different Truths.

Whether my face appears in autumn flowers,
Or, during winter snow,
No matter where you search,
I have found my way to your heart.
And that's where I wish to grow without departing. 
 
When the monsoon hits
You will feel me in the tickling raindrops.
The sound of my breath
Drowns the whispers of the night.
Fireflies go hiding behind the trees. 

Yonder in the milky mist mountains
Search me in a stranger’s smile,
You stopped to help her for a while.
The briefest moment of separation seems
Like a century of drought. 
 
Read me like a book, nay,
Don't take your eyes off.
Pull me into the sunset of your heart.
Let's merge and watch:
The infinite dark sky upright, 
 
Two poignant hearts skipped beats,
The puddles had coalesced into shallow streams
Awakening the sacred love to
A point where there is no return. 
 
What’s said were words,
What could not be said was an experience.
What has to be said,
Yet, I cannot say that remains a limitation.

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Leena Thampi

Jammu-born Leena Thampi, a talented writer brought up in Delhi, has four books and numerous articles published in India and abroad. She received accolades from literary platforms, including Gujarat Sahitya Academy and awards for her best contribution to literature in 2021 and 2022, and Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Literary Honours, 2022, from the World Writers Forum. Leena’s writing style is characterised by a unique blend of emotions and storytelling, making her a sought-after author.