Samina’s poem says that after a heartbreak, she finds solace in isolation, utilising hidden strengths and a burning rage, exclusively for Different Truths.
A red house with a blue door and you on the porch,
Tea fumes and broken nails—you are nursing a wound.
The tree waves and dogs bark but you stay still in the dark,
There’s a note playing in your head, but you refuse the glory of voice.
You are a passive thing, with your heart broken and fingers busted on a dime.
You’re better than them, but you believe no one but yourself.
You burn yourself when they warn you not to and smile.
I tell you to dance with me, but you shrink from me.
There’s a tree outside your house, but you spit at it every day.
Not realising that the man on the street scorns your face.
What happened? Tell me now,
Are you running from the wind and the light?
You’re a dancing curve but a straight line too but you
smile too little, and your eyes burn like lightening and that
voice like thunder but you slip,
slip,
slip.
I have no idea what is happening, but I see things spinning out of our hands.
You cave in the corners, and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to do.
There is rage in the wind and waters turning red, and you
Dare them to hit you, so you can mock them and laugh.
There is anger and penance and all things red, orange, and yellow.
There’s purple in the skies, with a mist of betrayal.
You don’t talk to me anymore, but you don’t talk to anyone anymore.
You mutter to yourself and coo at the cats.
I don’t understand. I really don’t. I am trying to be patient
But I don’t think I can handle all this duplicity.
All the secrets, the grimaces, and the raised eyebrows.
What am I missing? Tell me now!
Picture design by Anumita Roy
Samina Tahreem is currently pursuing English Master’s in Amity University, Kolkata. She is an avid reader and a prolific writer.
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