Of Love and Hope

Our unruffled unscathed present
enveloped by the shadows of dark past
was not meant to be like a raven room
full of dead memories and creepy dreams

we the detached deserted souls
like broken branches of trees
lying on the ground in blistering heat
were not meant to sear ourselves
with the caustic pain that we have imbibed

the slivered and shredded hearts
ravaged by the thrashes of doomed love
were not meant to be mended
with the guilt of undevised sins that we hold

the smiles that we barely give away
on our incidental awkward meetings
were not meant to be restricted
by the extent of closeness which we share

the loving tender touch of warm fingers
which we have been abstaining from
were not meant to remind us of
all the ugly scars that our bodies carry

the windows and doors of desires
which we have kept shut over the years
were not meant to keep at bay
the beams of luminous hope
which the future would soon radiate.

-Chhaya