Dear friend,

I searched the world for you
climbed the highest mountain
swam the longest nile

Why were you hiding?

I faced horrific demons
swam through trecherous waves
almost drowning in tears of frustration

Where were you?

I heard you were hurting
felt your heart melting
sensed you were wanting

I'm looking... I'm comming

Then there you were
right beside me
within me

You are me..

Pencil or pen in the hand
On the paper it shall land
Every word a story will unfold
Taking readers to legends untold
Rhyming lines the secret potion
Yes, poetry over motion

Over and over letters collide
Victory when poetry decides
Every pen needs paper to confide
Readily in heart a poem shall reside

Movement of words across the page
Only your thoughts taking center stage
Trust in poetry to sing to your heart
In all it's motions, it will soon start
Opening doors to rhythmic places
Now and then to different faces

Close your eyes
and picture this..
you and me
and our first kiss
Open your lids
so you can see
how your lips
feel to me
So soft and gentle
and spicy too
Can I have
a taste of you?
Just a nibble,
maybe a bite
Come here,
let me hold you tight
Close your eyes
and picture this
you and me
and our first kiss

Always lingering, longingly
Like leaves frolicking in trees
Your gaze entraps me
Tempting me
Mesmerizing me
Engaging me in a lovers dance
Seducing my senses
Only you, only you

A picnic in the park
a leaf with a breeze
hibiscus and vanilla
an afternoon tease
Sweet lemonade
under a shade of oak trees
hummingbird duet
with buzzing bumblebees
Teardrop kisses
a gentle love bite
you and I laughing
what a beautiful site
A few filtered moments
just you and I
spring flowers and bluebirds
under a clear blue sky

Lost completely in thoughts
not unusually so
Reminiscing those first moments
beneath a canopy of snow
A nervous first glance
That look in your eyes
I think we both knew
we were in for a surprise
Do you remember
that first kiss
unexpectedly new
The shock of realizing
I was seducing you
I was shocked too
Do you remember
walking in the clouds
of frozen waterfalls with me
Kissing on a bench
beneath a tall willow tree
Shivering from the cold
you held me in your arms
Birds watching from above
as you weaved your charms
Setting off all
of loves alarms
Lost completely in thoughts
not unusually so
Reminiscing each and every moment
after that first hello

You are me
A diamond in the rough
and an unpolished gem
Rough around the edges:
sparkles hidden by worn
patches of life
Lost in the hum drum
of broken hopes and dreams
separated by stretches of land;
yet somehow, united on a whim

You are me
A mixture of soils and faiths
A terra cotta ***
planted with seeds of hope
You are the stem
to my blooming petals
Grounding me, nourishing me
together we are the Earth's rose

You are me
Hummingbirds of hope
and lovebirds in the spring
We are a paradise of believes
in an ocean sparkling blue
filled with all our
dreams come true

You are scared, me too
Your eyes are shaded
With the color of passion
Tiny hues of anticipation

Come here, hold my hand
You are shaking, me too
I want to touch you
burning with anticipation

Do not be scared, I am here
My arms will protect you
We will douse this fire
And there will be no more

Anticipation ...

Pitter patter, pitter patter
I awoke this morning 
To the soft tapping of water
Against the many panes
Of my bedroom windows

The sound is mesmerizing
Pitter patter, pitter patter
I watched and listened silently
As rivulets of water chased
Each other in a race to the end

The rumbling of thunder is followed
By sudden flashes of bright lights
Pitter patter, pitter patter
The skies are singing me a song
The many sounds a unique symphony

Endless streaks of water
Float like clouds down the panes
For moments at a time it is quiet, then
Pitter patter, pitter patter
The chasing of water continues

Wrapped in my warm fuzzy blanket
I sit on a benchseat by the window
Watching the rain cleanse away
All of the previous days' stresses
Pitter patter, pitter patter

Time trickles by
agonizingly slow
tick tock tick tock
frustrations grow
They are playing the waiting game

Stung by fate
life's little trick
the sweetest boy
so very sick
Tick tock tick tock, time is just a game

Hands aged with fears
bound tight; she prays
fingers shivering
a grandmother softly says
God keep him safe and end this waiting game

Friends and family
kneel down in faith
praying together
In God's love they bathe
Knowing soon that time is almost here

Fate is fate
and we are all bound by destiny
but in my heart of hearts
I pray that he will be
your happy, healthy grandson once again

*to Wanda, you and your grandson are in our prayers

In happier times

Together always, and also apart

Smiling on the outside, crying inside

Holding hands, mile high walls between us



In happier times

Joined by paper, by properties

By kids, by work, by bills,

By love, by hurt, by hate, by hurt



In happier times

Music throughout, wrong music but music

Watching tv, wrong shows, but together right?

Dinner together, one ate and one cooked cleaned served

Happier times??



And now – alone and yet not alone

Friends, family, strangers

Sometimes crying outside

But then .. smiling on the inside



No longer joined by paper, properties

Work, bills, love hurt hate hurt

No more bad music, no more wrestling

Dinner together – with kids and two goldfish

Finally –happier times

A forgiving grey
Black and white together sway
until the next rain
A forgiving grey
Moody clouds come out and play
a forboding and colorless sky
Black and white together sway
A forgiving grey

© Priya Patel 6/1/2015

Stillness

Moments stood still
silent; never wavering
like how eyes sometimes do
I too am still
standing, falling, shrinking
deceptive like the moon
there then not there
shining bright
then dark as night
When moments stand still
I am reminded
that what may be
may not
__________


There is a point where in the mystery of existence contradictions meet; where movement is not all movement and stillness is not all stillness; where the idea and the form, the within and the without, are united; where infinite becomes finite, yet not” 

-Rabindranath Tagore

In the midnight of our days
there is no moon
for me to gaze upon
No whispering willows
or symphonies of the night
Just the blaring days sun
blindingly bright
In the midnight of our days,
there is no quiet of the night
The silent hue of stars
no where in sight
The humdrum of the day
becomes wrapped
like a regifted package;
boring and forgotten
passed on
like one moment to the next
In the midnight of our days
I day dream
of chirping crickets
and hooting owls
of whispering willows
and lone wolf howls
In the midnight of our days
I ache for the peacefulness
of the night

I love the feel  of you in the morning
The softness of your hands, roughness of your feet
the way your legs feel wrapped around mine
I love the way you turn to face me
Even in your sleep
I love when you open your eyes
And see me gazing at you
And you gaze back at me
Smiling, you touch my face and whisper
Good morning sweetheart …

She is the tickle behind my ear
whispering love from afar
offering hope and faith
best wishes for us all

I see pictures of her
smiling laughing drinking
She is beautiful in her mask
Her mask ... she wears it well

Behind; tear stained cheeks
permanently scarred heart
eyes as bleak as withered snow
She is lost, I cannot find her

Saddened by life's choices
dying from a broken heart
a loss of hope, of will
She is giving up

But I love her with all my heart....

Another day another hour  
lost in the hum drum  
of everyday life
I am a mother, a daughter,  
partner by your side
I never say it enough
never share what I feel
never tell you how much  I adore you,
I truly do
Your simple ways,
and the smile in your eyes  
You are the **** sporty realistic spice  
that I fall in love with day after day
There is so much I feel and not enough
words to convey how much
I truly adore you
I truly do
There is no glam or glitz
or fairytale blitz
but there is trust and love
and years of support;
an unspoken desire  
that I somehow distort
But I want you to know
after all these years
you still are the flame  to my fire...

© Priya Patel Feb 28, 2016

Your lips
Your eyes
Touching me
Seeing me
As only you can
Sweetest, softest touch
You against me
Desire for desire
Taking me away
From anything not you
Your lips
Your eyes
Whisper soft
Whisper me
On my neck
In my heart
Eyes closed
You are
My sweetest taboo...

If, from a distance so vast
With the spell you have cast
A few words from your lips
Makes my heart perform flips
Imagine, what you do in my arms

She is as beautiful
as butterflies in Spring
Her hair flutters in the breeze;
a gentle sneeze
from the soft blowing winds
She is beautiful; she is ...
Her skin glows golden
like daffodils at summers end
and just as flowers often do,
she blooms
In a world of trampled
black and white weeds,
she truly is as beautiful
as butterflies in Spring

*to my beautiful neice Nikita

Fall leaves 

The leaves appear distressed
angrily rustling 
frantically whispering 
lashing out at the branches
that once held them strong 
Their path has changed course 
from a tree of life 
it is now each leaf for itself 
and soon the leaves will Fall 

© ~ Priya, 9/5/16

Wondering thoughts

Sometimes,
in the quiet of the night
I allow my thoughts
to wonder free
to let my thoughts
just be
To play dress up
with faith, hope,
and happiness too;
and sometimes my thoughts
just want to be blue
and thats ok too
In the quiet of the night
my thoughts become super hero's
and I lie there patiently
just waiting to be saved

Your smile lingering
longingly
like a gentle breeze
frolicking in trees
Your gaze entrancing
tempting, mesmerizing
engaging me in a lovers dance
The warmth of desire
from your smoky brown eyes
a duet of stars
sparkling in the skies
Your hands on my hips
the warmth of your lips
sensually intoxicating me
with your gentle sips
seducing my senses
with just a touch of you

Fear not my eyes
for they are a sea of happy memories
that will bewilder you renderless
but also an ocean of sadness
that will mute even your sighs
Fear not the pockets of stress
pooling with unbrimmed tears
for there are also golden specs
of laughter and gem stones smiles
Fear not my eyes
for they are the only
windows to see me in

I awoke this morning
With the wind touching my face
A cool breeze waking me up,
As if shards of ice were blowing kisses. 
Touching my face, eyes, shoulders;
anywhere the warm flannel sheets forgot to protect
The morning light urges my eyes 
to open and I realize the windows
were left up to let the breezes in
Wrapping a sheet around me,
I shiver from the cool crisp air
And walk to the bench by the window 
Humming birds are practicing a duet
Such a beautiful sound to wake up to. 
The wind blows thru my hair 
And kisses my eyes. 
Good morning she says. 
Good morning ...

Months has drifted by

achingly slow

agonizingly so

and yet I remember

each moment

clearer now then even then

Distances toll

The hurt and pain

frustrations bleeding stain

You left me then

in a world unknown

Masked goodbyes

and feeling alone

Weaknesses suddenly

peering from dark corners

That is life, part of love

acknowledging, accepting

understanding, forgiving...

I am still drowning

from all the little things left unsaid

Like I love everything about you

all of you, exactly the way you are

So many life altering moments

in both our lives since then

So many times I wanted to hold you

and whisper I love you again and again

So many times

I just wanted to hold your hand

Here we are again

just a few days more

and all my words

will come out tumbling;

no more fumbling

Just you and I

sharing our love together

Stunned and silent, I can no longer feel

My hands tightly gripping the steering wheel

Your hands are cold around my throat

Why must I be the sacrificial goat

Why was it me you chose to follow

Death is imminent, hard to swallow




Silently I drive, my screams are within

Blade of a knife now piercing my skin

You ask for me to stop the car

But I have no idea where we are

Skies are black and the trees block all light

I am tied and blindfolded to impair my sight




My door creaks open and the cold air rushes in

he pulls me out, the ties cut into my skin

Dear God, I pray, please get me out

Give me the strength to try and shout

May someone hear me and set me free

From this man I once knew, now new to me




He drags me across sharp branches and stones

I scream from the pain as rocks cut-into my bones

I give up now as the darkness pulls me under

Outside all I hear is the sound of loud thunder

This man who preaches now committing a sin

He rips off my clothes, it is time now to begin




He is going to **** me, I am scared and cold

His hands touch my skin and I suddenly feel old

Old and weak with nothing but despair

As he drags me down and pulls back my hair

As I fight to keep him from touching me

He punches me over and over

and for once I can see




A bright light just ahead, asking me to come in

Silently I whisper,

forgive me father,

for I must have sinned

I wonder what he hides
behind those smiling lies
and the warm creeping blush
that shades his eyes

I wonder if he knows
that I can see

I wonder what he sees
when he looks at me
the flushed cheeks
and hesitant goodbyes
quivering lips
from wasted lies

I wonder what he sees*

© Priya Patel, 1/29/16

The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart.
~ St. Jerome

The sun and the sands breath me in
the ocean breeze sings me a duet
I lie on the edge of wet and dry
the salty air humming for me to forget
My world is now in the ocean sand
the cool water so easily opens its hand
and I simply let myself go ...

Temporary
Imagined
Manipulating
Everytime

Transient
Ignorant
Malicious
Everytime

Tormenting
Immortal
Malfunctioning
Everytime

Tactical
Righteous­
Intuitive
Unbelievable
Majestic
Perfect
Happiness
Simple

He tickled my feathers,
teased and caressed them;
fanned the beauty of my plumes
perfectly, until I was the perfect
way he wanted me to be
and then trampled me to the ground
How clearly I remembered his sound,
his thunderous roar
with the hunger of a lion,
his hunger for my peace,
his insatiable desire
to have complete control of me
But I fought back;
perhaps only in the end
when all of my feathers
were but a wilted lament
of what was once me
I fought silently,
no blood or tears
and certainly no fears
I simply walked away

~ Priya 3/21/15

Its the silent nights
I've come to dread
the silent sewing
of needle and thread
stiching my tearfilled wounds
I am a hero by day
and rag doll by night
torn and falling apart
unable to reach light
I am a cause
that seems to be lost

© Priya Oct 15, 2015

Like a butterfly,
my heart flies away
to a place afar
where only emotions exist;
a place where love has kissed
The fragrance of its feelings
is sweet like the nectar of dew
on blades of grass new
just after Springs' first rain;
a taste that lingers
time and again
You sing me a love song
with the poetry you write
and your eyes pearce my heart
with the words you say
Even the birds can't help but sway
Like a butterfly,
my heart does fly away
to a place afar
with the words of our love song

~ Priya 3/20/15

Noble and strong
Out of nowhere a knight
Rode into my darkness
And filled me with light

Slowly he dared
To enter that place
Where I had been hiding
Afraid to show face

A dungeon of sorts
Hiding fear, hurt and pain
He battled with courage
To enkindle again

The nightmare behind me
In sweet dreams I tread
My heart is now burning
I've healed where I've bled