Marriage Of Mourning

Pretty patterns 
spun delicately 
on dainty palms 
staining skin 
a deep auspicious red 
striving to join
zigzagging vermilion dots 
sitting proudly 
on a radiant face 
Her dreams take on 
a rosy hue 
cast by the 
crimson silk 
draped around 
her fragile form 
Lips painted scarlet 
tremble at the thought 
of being crushed 
slender limbs 
a quivering mass 
of fear and anticipation 
setting an eager heart 
galloping into the night 
The evening's 
twinkling lights 
cascade into veiled 
kohl smudged eyes 
gazing into the future 
brightened by the 
golden glow 
of the sacred 
matrimonial fire 
fusing two lives 
in an eternal embrace 
Salted with joy and 
a sprinkling of sorrow
tears flow 
the flowers in her hair 
leaving behind 
the familiar scent 
of home 
as tinkling steps 
take her 
into a new world 

only to be consumed 
by the leaping flames 
of avarice 
white skin charred 
to an inauspicious black
Vermilion blood 
marking the earth 
a dull brown 
Sparkling eyes 
dimmed by death
A budding life 
snuffed out 
before it could blossom 
Another innocent soul 
sacrificed 
at the altar of greed

 © 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved