An evocative love poem by Smita.

We finished with every trick in the bag.
If someone watches closely, almost like a halo,
Calm, radiates around us.
The meaning of excitement has changed.
It’s no longer arousal, sea-food, heavy metal . . .
We’re happy with dim lights, hand-holding,
The live band crooning, “I just called to say
I love you . . .”
Long drives in our Innova over
Tricky mountain terrain,
Arriving, at an isolated spot,
Granting us an unrestricted view of
Trishul, Nanda Devi, Panchachuli . . .
A clear winter sky, the strong
Sun pumping us with warmth,
And you, pleading –
“Let’s stay a while longer,
Please, please, please . . .”

• Picture design Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Smita Agarwal

Smita Agarwal is a poet-critic and the author of Wish-granting Words, Poems, Mofussil Notebook and Marginalized: Indian Poetry in English. She has won awards from the British Council and The Poetry Society, India. She has been a writer in Residence at the universities of Stirling, and Kent. She is Professor of English and Director, Centre for Women’s Studies, Allahabad University, and a professional singer with samples of her songs available on You Tube and SoundCloud.