Color coded
Vishnupriya

Color is potent, decisive, leading
to a point of no return.
Just an angry limb pressing on another,
A virus more lethal than Covid
going beyond the here and now,
decades or centuries, eons maybe,
And George Floyd is gone forever,
like the candle we snuff out
every birthday making a wish.
Did  George wish last birthday
to live beyond color? Or despite it?
But wishes come color coded
in the land of the free.
How long before a vaccine, a fix for hate,
anger, brute force of the worst degree?

Braids

I braid all my stories of

yesterday and today every night

for a sneak peek tomorrow, a dry run

before putting it out there for those who care..

I heard it knock on the door

Saw it  upclose strong resolute

But I gave it the slip, kept the door shut

And took the other road to the open ground.

I heard its rasping whisper in my ears

I plugged them with earbuds and

sang my own song so loud

it drowned the other voice.

I smelt the rot spread from

one to the other in the blink of an eye

And tasted the fallout of desperation

Yet chose my saner solitude instead.

I could sense its clammy palms

cold with sweat outstretched

I clung to my breath coming fast

and counted my blessings one by one.

The yester tales visit me

But I  look out the window where

all the blue green pink and white weave

warm blankets to snuggle in and cozy up.

Today’s not been easy but

I mean to make it  such

Walking loaded slows you down

But I mean to travel light.