I kiss the tip of your nose while my leg is thrown over your weary bones. Smiling, knowing that Im the one who gets to see this part of you, falling asleep mumbling your lullaby locutions with I love yous twirled around your tongue.

The lullaby you used to sing,
Still echoes in my ears.
It sticks with me on nights when I wake up terrified
From a nightmare too horrific than any Annabelle sequel,
And caresses my hair
It's touch calming down every cell of my body.
And when on nights I become too scared
By the unusual howls coming from across the road,
Your lullaby like the command fed into the computer,
Continues to straighten the creases on my forehead,
With the love that pours from your voice.
The syllables fall from your lips like pearls
Weave a necklace of confidence
And hang it around my neck.
The song you used to sing has been stuck in my mind
Like the strongest adhesive,
Simultaneously joining the torn pieces of my soul.
And when on some nights I sleep well,
I dream of you,
Rocking me to sleep in your lap,
Singing the lullaby you used to sing.

- Kavya Mukhija

Where are you going
my little one...
my precious son?
Why are you taking
my baby from me?

Close my eyes
and you're two...
Close my eyes
and you're four...
Close my eyes
and you're walking
right out of the door.

Where are you going
my little one...
my precious son?
You just keep growing
too quickly for me.

Close my eyes
and you're eight...
Close my eyes
and you're ten...
Close my eyes
and I just want
to hold you again.

Where are you going
my little one...
my precious son?
You've no way of knowing
how proud you make me.

Close my eyes
you're in school...
Close my eyes
and you're grown...
Close my eyes
and you're a father
precious son of your own.

In the skeletal remains of the night
an echoing whimper of a frightening cry

"Daddy, there's monsters where there's no light."

I join under the covers and hum a soft lullaby

Daddy is here to protect
of all that haunts in the night
no cranny left unchecked
no monster left to fright

Sobbing, you moved your tiny body closer
threw your little arm around
laid your head on my shoulder
"Thank you daddy"
was your final sound

Eyes finally closed
breathing finally slowed
embraced and composed
your dream I borrowed.

turn off the lights
climb into bed
pull over the blankets
rest your head

close your eyes
quiet your mind
relax and sleep
leave worries behind

i'll be there soon
watching the starlight
but until then
my love, goodnight

The wind whistled a lullaby,
Kissing her goodbye.
As it raced through her forehead,
Before she dropped dead.
The floor had become a crimson pool,
Filled with the last remnant of the fool.
She thought she could tame the beast,
But, instead she became his feast.
It was a silent night,
And while she had put up a brave fight.
But, in the end three bullets made their way,
And they ended her stay.
Now on the floor she lies dead,
Her blood has painted the floor red.
We watch in horror, as numb as ice.
While rain pours down our eyes.










Tanay Sengupta, Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved.