A surreal poem, rich in imagery, by Gopal, exclusively for Different Truths. 

A hyphen rests between the cobble and pebble
there is this soft light dips and rises
draw the movement of the sun,
colour has other laws
snatching saturation of hue from the twilight.
 
Sand scatters on the gravel beach
night draws the footprints on the wind ripples
of crushed silt,
there is the heartbeat of the moonless sky
breaks into a lullaby.
 
The dark print of the many lives
outside the walls, on the street
dimness, stillness: that is the sense.
glass windows have rusted hinges
invisible stars suffer and lose their voices.
 
Memories recollect in large frames
learn to leave others,
the images fill up the invisible doors
nothing enters, nothing escapes 
from the old-world canvass.

Visual by Different Truths

Gopal Lahiri

Gopal Lahiri is an India-based bilingual poet, critic, editor, writer, and translator with 23 books published, including four jointly edited books. His poetry is also published across various anthologies as well as in eminent journals of India and abroad. He has been invited to various poetry festivals including the World Congress of Poets. He is published in 14 countries and his poems are translated into 15 languages.

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