I buried an angel on top of the hill
Under the magnolia tree
Her wings are long since silent
But she still means the world to me

The magnolia's flowers cover her grave
Decorated in majestic white
She said the scent was Heaven's perfume
And their smell was pure delight

I was married to this angel for forty-one years
Before Heaven called her away
I knew she had to leave this world
Even though I begged her to stay

I know that my loss is Heaven's gain
I guess they were one angel short
I know they wouldn't have taken her away
Unless it was their last resort

Sometimes when I start missing her
I can't wait 'til the magnolias bloom
We can sit and talk for hours
While smelling their sweet perfume

She said, "This is as close to Heaven
as anyone could ever be"
So I buried her on that hillside
Underneath the magnolia tree

When poets bleed they fill their quills
And write their words in red
The letters scream each time they're made
In the hope of being read

The page becomes a sounding board
A mirror to the soul
A reflection meant to bring them peace
To comfort or console

They choose their words so carefully
Not wasting a drop of blood
Writing words that lift them up
As tears begin to flood

They'll write with true conviction
Each time they start to weep
They write sometimes to clear their minds
Before they get to sleep

When poets bleed a word is born
Trying to appease their need
Shining a light to the whole wide world
And all who want to read

frantically
  holding
back
  the
last
black
thread –
vanishing
cloaked
   dream
     looks
   back
promising
nothing

- Vijayalakshmi Harish
    24.10.2012

Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish

I wanted to write you a love poem
But there's nothing I haven't said
The words of love have all been used
So I'll talk about us instead

I was nothing until you came along
And showed me what love was about
You planted the seeds of passion
Where loneliness used to sprout

I never noticed the lover's moon
Until I saw it in your eyes
You even stole the star's reflection
That lights the darkest skies

I used to dread the coming rain
'Til we danced to the beat of its drops
You'd hold me close, all night long
'Til nature's music stops

I wanted to write you a love poem
Before they lay you in the ground
I tried my best to say goodbye
But I couldn't make a sound

My breath somehow forsakes me
It will not whisper your name
My heart says I'm unworthy
It cannot ignite this flame

My soul cries out for recognition
But my lips won't let me smile
Tempted by your heavenly beauty
But captive to denial

My dreams filled with your vision
I dare not close my eyes
Everytime you pass me by
Another piece of me dies

I am but a simple man
And you, a goddess of desire
A treasure meant to entice my soul
One I can't acquire

How much longer must I suffer
How long will my soul beseech
Alas, I turn and walk away
For you're simply out of reach

we lie amongst the scattered , shattered words
i wonder -
are we one voice or two?
our thoughts sail down the same stream
life throbs as one rhythmic beat within our ink necklaces
linked by our joint instinct to inscribe
engrave patterns of hope intertwined
amidst the drawings of despair

- Vijayalakshmi Harish
25.10.2012

Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish