2012

our house in chennai,
white-washed maze of bougainvillea
amidst curtains of purple, red and yellow
the family is sound asleep
and i rise from myself
float over to you, lower my face
close to yours
let my eyes turn black
like a japanese manga, to scare you.
i know i will pay for this.

the house dissolves, and you and i
and all whom we know
are waiting now for the
train to take us
until i remember i have to return
and pick up the bags
for our journey on to mumbai

but rumbling deep now,
the buildings roll, the waves grow deeper
we rush into the foyer
terracotta floor, terracotta walls
hollow arches
against terracotta floor,
your bougainvillea dress
shines bright across the void
the floor rolls onward to us
you're static and stare
so i grab you and pull
as the floor rolls towards us in waves
the arches cave in
your eyes turn black
i can’t pull you out
this is how i pay
while the world collapses