Autumn
Who is afraid of dying
while dreaming of autumn?
(sleeping in the overripe panicles of rice)
you ask untying the last wish-knot
that binds us to this night of platitude
and the river
keeps on devouring the shivering reflections of memories
so that preposterousness of all our journeys
becomes painfully manifest
in the silent despair of your voice
watching you count all the broken boats on the shore
I wonder if I shall ever be able to tell you
that I strangled all the seasons
in one hope of your arrival
Poet teaches Botany at Govt. Higher Secondary School, Baramulla, J&K. She can be reached at inshamuzafar19@gmail.com.
