One More Day

She turns the key in the lock
knowing she will step into darkness
How long has it been 
since she has turned the light on
Her fingers find the switch 
With a flick the room 
is bathed in a gentle glow
She wonders why 
everything still seems black
The room smells of loneliness
No matter how many doors 
and windows she throws open
the fresh air never quite seems 
to blow the gloom away
She hesitates not knowing 
what to do next
a steaming bath with scented salts
or a piping hot meal
neither seems worth the effort
She sinks down on the sofa
turns on the TV 
Desultory surfing of channels
yields nothing that will distract her
from the emptiness 
that gnaws on her tattered nerves
She forces herself to go to the kitchen
it's almost time for dinner
Eyes closed, she takes a deep breath
to stop herself from screaming
sets to work, chopping, stirring, tossing
She hears the clatter of steps
the door swings open
We're home, comes the familiar cry
She fixes a smile on her face
goes out to greet her family
Time quickly whizzes by
until the house is quiet again
She turns out the lights
She has lived through another day
but it gets harder each time
Tomorrow's shadow 
has already begun
to draw its cloak around her
One day, she knows, 
she will sink into its folds

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

Stir my senses

Not a shy violet
shrinking away
from your touch
Not a rosebud
waiting patiently
to blossom
Not a daisy
peeking timidly
through the weeds

I'm more an orchid
exotic
unusual
bold
I've survived
every blow
adapted to each
twist of fate
bloomed despite
all odds

Your strength
won't crush me
Don't wrap me
in cotton wool
I can match
every thrust
of your passion

Tender melodies
don't stir my pulse
Awaken me
with the
throbbing beat
of drums
arouse me
with clashing cymbals
Strum my nerves
with the twang
of an electric guitar

Let's make
the earth quake
with our music

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

The Best Is Yet To Come

Stop trying to shed tears
I know your eyes are dry
Not that I blame you
If I was around when I died
Even I wouldn’t cry

Crusty old curmudgeon
Bad-tempered shrew
Is that what you called me?
If I had to describe myself
I would use those words too

I make no apologies
for making it so tough
I toiled for a lifetime
while you had it smooth
so learn to take the rough

I'll spare you the long speeches
And all those mournful tunes 
Break out the wine
Dance to merry music
And screen some funny cartoons

Now I’ve finally been laid to rest
But don’t say goodbye so fast
Tomorrow when my will 
is read, you’ll see
I’ve saved the best for last

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

If You Were Here

The sun rises in your eyes 
The rays of your gaze 
fall on me 
Roses bloom 
on my pale cheeks 

The flush on my skin 
heats my fingers 
I feel myself melting 

Muscles clench 
trying to hold 
the ecstasy within 
lest it floods 
through my body
drowning me 
in its release 

I turn your photograph 
to face the wall 
let fantasy take over 
Can you imagine 
how it would be 
if you were here?

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

Unfulfilled Desires

Secrets buried deep 
bubble up in dreams 
spill out of a boiling 
cauldron of feelings 
setting fire to fantasy 
conjuring up 
steamy scenarios 
lips meeting 
limbs melding
skin fusing 
slaking the thirst 
of parched bodies 

Sated, I set free words 
locked in my heart 
I love you, I say 
They tremble 
on my breath 
their sharp prick
bursts the bubble 

Even in dreams 
you don't tell me 
what I need to hear

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

Remnants of Grandeur

Bougainvillea pink
trails from a
crumbling balcony
Fresh flowers hang
over faded shutters
hiding the sight of paint
peeling from walls
enclosing rooms
long deserted

Cobwebs clutter
cold corners
as dust motes drift
through stale air
choking in the absence
of a fresh wind
that whistles past
without knocking
on a once ornate door

In its desolate grounds,
a derelict home
struggles to hold on
to slowly eroding dignity
at the relentless hand of time

Who knows what dreams
the weathered stones protect
from the blistering sun
What bitter tears mingle
with the rain that washes away
the final remnants of grandeur

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

Be With Me

Come sit by me 
Don't be put off 
by the hungry longing 
you spy in my eyes 
I won't devour you 
with my body 
What I desire is the 
meeting of minds 

I crave the pleasure 
of long conversations 
meandering through 
unknown paths 
stumbling upon 
surprising revelations 
immersing myself 
in your words 
losing myself 
in your silences

Let us bare not flesh 
but our hearts 
For now, it will suffice 
If it should ignite the spark 
we pretend to not notice, 
Well, then let's 
burst into flames 
together

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

Forlorn Pearls

They escape 
from dark depths
pulling away 
to freedom 
sliding down 
a smooth expanse 
hugging the 
gentle curve 
dipping into 
the hollow 
I wait for them 
to drop into my palm 
too precious to spill 
the secrets they hold —
forlorn pearls 
flowing from sad eyes 

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

Sassy Cindy

The clock struck midnight
Cinderella knew it was time to go
One more chime, she told herself
She was having so much fun
One more, then one more
As the eleventh chime pealed
she pulled herself away
and rushed to the carriage
Alas, she had left it too late
Her dress turned to rags
Her coach again a pumpkin
only the glass slippers still twinkled
The horrified guests gawked at her
Stepmom and step-sisters guffawed
Sassy Cindy raised a defiant eyebrow
planted her hands on her hips

(unaware that her ragged outfit
was about to become a fashion sensation)

and told the astonished prince,
Well, I saved you a nation-wide search, didn’t I?
Oh, and I make a mean pumpkin soup

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

The Frog Prince

Mr Frog, that handsome fella
with his shiny green coat and melting eyes
could have had his pick of stunning girl frogs
who all thought he was mighty nice

But he wouldn’t give them the time of day
‘Cos he was aiming a lot higher
He had his eye on the lovely princess
Who lived in her ivory tower

He persuaded the wicked old witch
to grant him a magic spell
It would turn him into a handsome prince
if the princess kissed him by the golden well

So Mr Frog, who fancied himself a singer
hopped to the well every single day
Hoping to serenade the princess
if she chose to come that way

Then one day, his patience paid off
he spotted her skipping merrily along
He puffed out his chest, cleared his throat
and launched into his favourite song

Astonished, she stopped in her tracks
Picked him up and planted THE kiss
As Mr Frog swooned in delight
On her merry way went the pretty miss

When he opened his eyes
He felt a weight on his head
He flicked out his sticky tongue
and brought down a crown of red

Alas, he found he was still a frog
So off he marched to the old hag
What lousy spell is this, he said
and demanded his money back

The spell did work, said the witch
who was never among his fans
You are now a prince among frogs
I never promised you’d turn into a man

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

Anticipation

Heart set aflutter
frantic thumping
sheen of shine
on flaming skin

Damp palms
dry lips
Breath catching
in the throat

Sick with
anticipation
Butterflies riot
in the stomach

Smooth the
dress down
tuck errant
strands away

Hide emotions
behind dark glasses
Pretend not to
notice his wave

Mask’s in place
Smile calmly
Inside, a
volcano erupts

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved