Shiver

 Kissing a thousand frogs

sometimes she would see

the flicker of a prince

lips brushing

tongues digging

fingers that reached

only the cleavage

never the hidden treasure

beneath that skin

bodies and organs

the cosmic dance 

desire,lust,seduction

a missed heartbeat

a moment

liquefied

in the corner of an eye

dreams quiver

and vaporize

time you traitor

kissing the next disguise

she waits to undress

the light

she hides beneath

folds of flesh

and a shiver travels

down her spine.

BITTER CHOCOLATE

He was always
a known face
in school,at home
a library or a park

whether it was a bruise
a forced kiss
or a gashing scar

she never slept
to dream a dream
the shroud of shame
the conspiracy of silence
never let her scream

this is the last
to herself she would lie
but that it was
always a lie

his smell would never
leave the room
the chocolate
he left was always bitter.

She had noticed
long back that
that there it sat
in a dictionary
-'trust' the pseudo word
interceded between
'truth' and 'tragedy.'


(This is inspired by Pinky Virani's book by the same title about child abuse.We celebrate children's day,its time we celebrate childhood only when we are ready as individuals,families and societies to speak up against our children being exploited and abused.)