In The Night

You come to me 
when deserted lanes 
are drenched 
in the shadows 
of our passion 
The moon 
a willing accomplice 
gently lights the path
for ours is a 
forbidden love 
lighting up the dark 
You step silently 
through the empty street 
Even the slightest sound 
can give us away 
The wind obligingly 
blows the other way 
All the windows 
are shut 
to keep out the cold 
I open mine 
to welcome your heat 
Every second with you 
sparkles like the stars 
Every minute 
is brighter than the sun 
We cannot stop time 
from ticking inexorably 
towards dawn 
but the night comes 
just for us

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

Set Me Free

Peace, like the leaves 
lying still on trees 
on an airless day, 
settles on my skin
A soothing warmth, 
absent while 
I struggled 
with unrequited feelings, 
returns
A welcome 
protective layer 
shielding me 
from the pinpricks of hurt 
your lack of attention 
inflicted on me
Nerves, shredded by 
incessantly fretting 
over you, 
blessedly numb 
The gap, between 
the times when 
I think of you, 
has stretched 
from minutes to hours
Almost a day 
has gone by 
You barely 
came to mind
If you stop 
visiting me 
in my dreams 
I will know 
I have finally 
left you behind

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

So easy...

So easy to
dwell in possibility -- 
to say if only, 
& paint 
sunny scenarios
always ending
on a happy note

To say what if 
& visualise 
clear blue skies
unmarred by
clouds of doubt

So easy to
dwell in possibility —
So easy to 
lose touch 
with reality

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

Museum of Memories

The days we existed

in the same orbit 

many moons ago 

when our spaces collided 

No trace is left of them 

The sun 

that shone on us 

has set

The moon 

in whose gentle glow 

we sparkled 

is eclipsed

The time we shared 

obliterated 

by the years 

that have since 

piled up 

Who is to say 

it was ever real

But it was. Look,

I tucked every second 

under my skin 

buried all the shared moments 

in my heart 

nurtured the shadows 

of wonderous days 

in the fertile soil 

of my soul   

I bring them out 

when I am alone 

gaze lovingly at each one 

dust them off with my breath 

polish them with my love

They live and thrive 

to this day 

A treasured collection 

of memories 

in the museum 

that is me

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

No Turning Back

My reluctant fingers 
strain against your grasp 
I hear the wind
in your voice 
blow the words away
I try to read them 
on your lips
Sorry, you seem to be saying
Your voice cracks 
I think of lightning 
cleaving my world 
The rain from your cloudy eyes 
fails to douse my anger
Perhaps you see 
the fire in my eyes 
It travels through my skin 
scalding yours
You let go of my hand 
Light-headed, I turn away 
The air rushes to my lungs 
I breathe again 
If I don't look back
I know I will be free

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved

Ignorance is Bliss

Ignorance is bliss, they said

But not for her

Fighting for every breath
She didn't know 
the brilliant blue 
of the summer sky
the sweet notes 
of a robin's song
the soothing green shade 
of an oak tree

Waging a losing battle
too big for her frail body
her little hands didn't know 
the wonder of discovery
her tiny feet didn't know
the firm feel of the earth

Hooked up to machines
she didn't know
the warmth 
of a mother's hug
the love in 
a father's kiss

She left too early
and will never know 
how much she was loved
how much she is missed

How could ignorance
ever be bliss?

© 2014 Uma Venkatraman ~ All Rights Reserved