I've been told by you,
I lack.
I've too cut you, lots
Of slack!

Now kick out the
dictionaries!
I'm letting go of all
pleasantries.

For once, it's adequate
to do so.
You know, that I know,
That you know.

Oh! you see, *what I did
there?
No? Read again, I'm right
here.

I like to keep it simple,
you mind?
Fingers on my right temple,
I grind!

                        ..........   "Hey watch out" - "look out"
                    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,        "Hey! who's behind-"
..... "It's me."
                                       ....... "I've come to put you in a total bind."

Take a pause,
wait - rewind,
"It's me", I've come to put
you in a total bind.

I wanted to say,
I adore you.
You cringed your nose?
I abhor you!

All your beauty, was
for naught!
To care for girls, was
I taught.

I have spoiled you
and free, let you roam,
Took all the poison and
a mouth, filled with foam.

I wander about distraught,
within my home.
Family and friends readying
me, a tomb.

You may cry a river,
cry a sea, or an ocean.
You may cut out of your body,
every bit, every portion.

In heaven I end up
or in hell I burn.
One thing's for sure,
There's no return.

© Ali Qureshi

If this is reality,
I need to rediscover it.

To go over, the gyri
and, each and every sulci

Search every nook and cranny,
the crevices; if there are any

If this is it,
What is it?

It's not done.
I'm not done.

**© Ali Qureshi

I have made a note
of what Mr. King wrote.
He warned: “It’s best to stay away!“
Listen, to what I have to say!

It’s eating your brains!
As if a Zombie.
Listen, if your wit remains,
I’m talking about T.V.

Yes the telly, the box.
Where you catch – the fox.

                                     “It’s news to me.”
                                                            ­            “Didn’t  you hear me say-”
                                             “I’ll read about it, see?”
                                                       ­                               “Well… Okay.”

(Now her phone’s ringing)
How good if she just- read on.
Instead what she’s viewing?
‘Her pic’ someone commented on.

“Why don’t you just listen
to me”, I said.
She threw a mug, caught, taken-
but with my head.

She was out! Out of my room,
Out of my house, out of my life.
Here I hoped a flower will bloom,
I’ll propose, and she’ll be my wife.

Ah! The beauty of pain.
Thoughts of her, in the rain.
Oh! no- not again. She’s back.
All my efforts, rendered, in vain.

**© Ali Qureshi