Ablaze with Longing: Disastrous Masquerade

Srijoni’s evocative poem depicts a longing that illuminates holiness, revealing a soul’s face, yet it ignites a wildfire, exclusively for Different Truths.

The sky of sanctity is set ablaze
In flames of desire,
They engulfed my goodness and
Unveiled my face,
The spark I'd been naively
Running after all along,
Now become a wildfire,
Beat me in the chase.
 
Deadly cobwebs lingering
Amidst the mute piano keys,
In the dull, shabby shelves,
Books half nibbled by mice,
Obscure figures on the canvas
Painted with dust –
Everything turns into ashes
In a trice.
 
Tattooed limbs –
With curses scribbled on the skin,
Are all weary of dancing
With the drunkards at night;
I staggered into the burning house
With my head spinning,
And puffy eyes blinded by
The dazzling party lights.
 
The girl who murdered her ambitions,
Destroyed all her dreams,
In front of her vices
Let her virtues surrender,
From bloodshot eyes
Shed her very last tears,
As the Fire God
Wraps his arms around her.

Picture design by Anumita Roy