‍   there is a rat in our room.

‍   we've always had a rat problem, but never in our room. in the kitchen; in the living room; in the backyard, yes. i don't know how it got here, but it did.

‍   i spend most time alone in the room.

‍   i guess i'm not really alone. the rat is 'with' me. it stays out of my way, mostly, but sometimes, if i hold my breath and lower whatever song's blasting off of spotify; i can hear it. it scampers around in the clothes closet. it runs across the floors. i've seen it once or twice.

‍   no one else in my family seems to care it's there.

‍   they know it is, but they haven't done anything about it. usually we'd set up mice traps but having one in the room is always a danger - we walk barefoot and throw our things around. the trap might end up snagging us before it lands the mouse.

‍   they call the rat 'friendly'.

‍   it's 'the friendly'. sometimes, i talk out loud to it, when i'm alone. i tell it about how i'm not ready for mom to leave. i tell it about how i'm scared for college. (i must be going crazy.) i was certain that the moment it would hear my voice; booming, at no one in particular; it would scuttle away.

‍   but, sometimes, if i hold my breath... i like to pretend i can hear it listening.

Friends,
But you always want to tell me your secrets first
Friends,
But you cannot forget the way my hand felt on your thigh when we got too drunk
Friends,
But you call me at 2 AM to vent about work and how your boss was such a ***** again this week
Friends,
But you want to lay in bed with me and do nothing together not even touch
Friends,
But you know me better than I could know myself
Friends,
But you send me pictures of dogs you see on the street because it makes me smile
Friends,
But when you hear the love songs the only name that comes to mind is my own
Friends,
But always, always something more.

"why do you like him?"
he's smart
he's funny
he's cute
he's crazy
he's friendly
he's kind
he's him
                                                 "no he's not. i don't see why you like him"
                                                            ­                                             "hes ugly"
                                                           ­                                          "he's stupid"
                                                                ­                                       "he's blunt"
                                                                ­                                  "he's ignorant"
                                                                ­                                       "he's mean"
                                                           ­                        "he's not good enough"

                                


                     ­                    no one sees what i see
                                he doesn't even see what i see

I want to be
Someone that you'll enjoy
Come unto me
I'll give you peace,
I'll give you joy.

But usually,
People don't take me seriously
They treat me as a toy
It gets me annoyed

It's unbelievable that there's someone so nice
I'm sweeter than sugar, flavourful as spice,
It's like you get a six everytime you roll the dice

You are so lucky
To have me

I really do not like it when I am used
I won't tolerate my friendship being abused
To not see my worth, you must really be a ******

You wouldn't want me
To think that of thee

Ooh,
If I was like you
Doing the thing you do
It'd make me go boo-hoo

What makes me sad is you
And the things you do
They are so cru-
El and selfish too

That won't change anything

I want to be
Someone that you'll enjoy
Come unto me
I'll give you peace,
I'll give you joy.

But usually,
People don't take me seriously
They treat me as a toy
It gets me annoyed

I am solely the best friend
I am used to that

I am the girl you invite to the game because you think you're going to score your first home-run of the year and I know the sport well
I am the girl you have proof-read your poetry to make sure it is okay to show another
I am the girl you rehearse the love song for to assure that it is suitable for sharing

But the home-run is never made in my honor
And the poems will never mention my name
And the beautiful love song was never meant for me

But I show up to the game with a sign decked out in glitter with your name and number held up high
And I let you know that a sonnet is fourteen lines and should be written in iambic pentameter
And I tell you your voice was sounding a tad flat when you were singing the lyrics "Baby this song is all for you"

You say "Thanks, you're the best friend a guy could ask for"
And I smile and nod, I am used to this

Courteous love knows the charm

Of the loved body’s pleaded sheet

Upset before a well of tears

He is the first to complain



Friendly love whistles a gay tune

in her glory, mischievous

She appreciates powdered saloons

And many a silly mischief



Sensual love and his perfumes

Reads on purple lips

The screams and sighs at the frontier

Of a bliss– It’s morning already!



Translated on October 27, 2017

Lyon

Inspired at the thought of Laurentin

She has a friendly smile and a warm embrace,
With that young and beautiful heart, she aspires a heavenly grace,
She is a fun loving and Life living girl,
Her funny nature was as precious as a piano black pearl...

Vagrant-heart is like
that pigeon---
fluttering wings against
the glass facade
of a high-rise
in humid Mumbai;

the staircase- light
confusing the avian eyes

frail-body
eager to enter
for
making a nest
in the treeless place.

Friendly pokes
***** jokes
Someone has misheard:

-Are you some kinda perv?
-I struck some kinda nerve?

Awkward looks
into boots.

Who will be the first
to change the topic,
pitch of talking?
Can this be reversed?

It was just an impulse.
Yes, it is that simple
when it's not rehearsed.
Who's that good with words?

Smile and let's move on.
Let us not be dull.
Moods will come and go
so on the go we learn.