Painting by Sri Mahadeb

Beneath the White Sheet

Your toe stuck out
from the light cloth
they had lain on you.

There was no need
to uncover your face;
I knew it was you.

I gently raise the cloth,
as if not to wake you.
I draw it down
below your nipples.

Your chest is still.
The once throbbing heart
is now silent.

I touch you.
Your body is cold,
the once warm body
that rose to my touch is still.

I want to lie next to you
one last time.
Hold you in my arms,
kiss you.

But it is past time for embracing.
I touch your toe again,
hear you yelp
the time I cut your ingrown toenail.

Life in the Shadows

We live in the shadows,
not in fear,
of the light.

We live in the shadows,
where others feel safe,
from us.

We live in the shadows,
when denied our rights,
and humanity.

We live in the shadows,
in this darkness,
we exist.

Love Me, Forever

Love me, forever,
till my last breath,
till my last lucid thought,
till my last kiss on your lips,
till my last fragrance you sense.

Our forever ends,
as I cease,
as I take leave of this body
and you see me no more.

Your love for me
flows into a nothingness,
we are a thing of the past.

You are present and future.
There is no more us.
There is you and only you.

Yet, if there is a part of me in you,
and you remember me,
we cease only when you cease.

Riding Pillion

He gently slides his hand to his back
to an awaiting hand.
Their fingers clasped.

They wait
for the traffic lights to change.

I watch,
am both a jealous voyeur,
and a happy romantic.