Words. They live inside us. And all around us. Like God. And bacteria.
These words I sat down to ponder
Some fleeting, some so deep
Some with powers to enrapture
I tried to catch them; thoughts scattered asunder
And then it dawned.
Could it be a number?
439
The word pops out gleaming
A memory so pristine it pulses with meaning
The tall gates that cosset
The cold marble where I laid my cheek
The summer breeze through wet hair
Sweet laughter; spicy stories
This number, I really would like you to meet
A soft-focus image, carved out in concrete
This number, almost like an honour I wear
The warmth, the love, my roots – all in there
I won’t lie, it bears upon me some days
Its presence, a window to every line on my face
Summer nights on the terrace, with Kachua Chap and constellations
The sweet heady smell of mogras, raw mangoes and effortless elations
The happy middle ground, just perfect it seemed
Till I left for greener pastures, ‘just natural’ it was deemed
There my babies, I left you behind,
My favourite faces at the airport beaming, waving goodbyes
You smiled and you joked, and reminded me to shine
But right there, hard to miss, was the mist in your eyes
After that though, it’s all a blur of seasons and the grind
Caught up in the sparkle, I forgot to look back as often as I anticipated
Shining lights, they baited me, and I followed, intoxicated
The city that never sleeps was like a lady in red
She seduced me and I believed I’d sleep when I’m dead
In all the intensified commotion and din
I found myself yearning, returning to the one, the genuine
The day I moved back was the happiest for me
A reunion, salty with tears and sweet with the scent of frangipani
In the bear hugs, the relief, I noticed your paint that was peeling
Your warmth lit me up, I sank into that feeling
Much time has passed since that occasion
We meet more often these days, two old ladies on a mission
Like a crazy burst of flowers, love blooms in your garden
I keep coming back for a glimpse of your face, now wizened
There’s so much held inside you, so much you fathom
We’ll ride this wave out, you me and the Divine
Together for eternity, me and my gang in 439