Maybe that's love
the space that exists between things,
the reason there are gaps
between our fingers.
Between everything.
I'd never been good at using chopsticks.
I'd always drop them trying to grip
something heavy,
something more substantial.
One stick would go left, the other
would go right,
making a mess of everything.

Rice was easy.
But then again, maybe that's how love works.
snapping between the space of things,
Because she could pick them up
and use them, no problem.

It kind of changes your perspective
when you're hungry and can't eat
how you want to eat.
Rice is good, but I wanted something a bit heartier.
Something me and my clumsy
hands could enjoy.
She'd laugh,
chowing down on her noodles,
all tangled and twisted up.
It came naturally to her.
Me, I just couldn't get it.
The more we sat,
the more I craved something
Other than rice.
I craved her heart.
Steady, patient.
I didn't know how to hold her
But one day I'll learn how

Her glance has wounded

me deeply, it pierced my heart --


oh, arrow of love!

It’s not that I fell for you and slowly got to know you
I didn’t go deeper

I am in deep
I know all of you
And now I love you

Say I love you, Ms. T
Willing am I, to change
And expand my range
But I will change only my behaviour
Not my nature
For you, can I be silent
Become less brutally honest
Speak more softly
Walk more slowly
Keep some distance
Be less tense
Irrespective of the situation
Give you more attention
Even go to jail if required
As long as the cause is good!

Say I love you, Ms. T
With you, will I always be
Loyal to the tee
Through sunny and rainy days
Even if I never get my way
Your secrets, will I keep forever
For you, deeply will I care
However, never will I be overprotective
No matter what, will I do my best to stay positive
After all, are we a team
And you make me beam!!

Say I love you, Ms. T
So much fun, can we have
And so much, can I give
A night out at Elliot's Beach
Swapping tales at lunch
While I savour a Beef Biryani
Writing poems about each other
Listening to Harris Jayaraj songs together
Dissing the central government
Getting into a Harry Potter related argument
Travelling in a "toy train"
Dancing in the Chennai rain
The list will be endless
And will I make sure, nothing you miss!!

Say I love you, Ms. Y
If you love me back
I swear I will always have your back
Because, are you my world
And it is your hand I will forever hold
If not, then thank you for this beautiful opportunity
To write yet another piece of romantic poetry!!

Falling
As I stand on the street corner, clothes drenched with rain.
I watch as the clouds overhead torment the earth with their tears.
Falling
Falling
Falling

The water splashes against my face, hiding my own raindrops as the sorrow becomes one.
I look around and notice I’m alone. The rain grows harder.
Falling
Falling
Falling

I take a step and find the puddle that has grown deeper and wider during the downpour.
I begin to sink into the cold, bottomless pool as the rain begins its torrential crescendo.
Falling
Falling
Falling

I feel a hand wrap around mine and pull, saving me from the sorrow and darkness that was my fate.
I gather my footing among the leftover drops of rain and take in my rescuer.
Falling
Falling
Falling

I gaze into her stormy blue eyes and live a lifetime in the span of a second
I follow her brown hair as it surrounds her face like a painter’s perfect frame.
I catch the warm, inviting smile and suddenly forget the bone-chilling malaise that soaked me.
I see the knowing expression pressed on her face, finding solace in the shared storm.
I feel her touch and know that I’m wanted, that I’m safe.
Once again, I find myself
            Falling
                                  Falling
                                                           Falling.

The moon swallows the sun,
And for a second,
Everything becomes that much darker.
Nothing moves. Silence looks around,
Confused, looking for a sound.

Her lips touch mine,
And the world stops.
I felt my breath leave my body.
I felt her body through her lips.
My throat the only thing that stops.
My heart spilling over into her mouth.

The silence around leans closer,
Looking for a sound. Any smack,
Any slurp we could give to feed
Its hunger.
We kissed like everything in us
Filled the gaps between the stars.
When it was over,
Only a handful of people could tell you
What an eclipse looks like

I finger my gift

for her, it's almost as if --


she gave it to me.