A Modern Day Romance Poem

By Sunrit Majumder

5 pm, dusk at the cruising spot.

He sits by the corner of the bench.

Hairless forearms and supple fingers,

Face bowed and hands anxious.

Gaze eager to break free, but

restricted by years of conditioning -

as if it's always the first time.

Skin sees when the eyes don't.

Moisture ballets down the spectacle

rim. Dusk closes in like a

heaving sigh. He strikes a

smoke, flings his hair and

looks across at the figure

walking by -

The figure sits on the other end.

Distance unshrinking, pupils dilate,

a clock starts beating inside.

For a moment glances meet,

supple fingers wish to brush against

hairy arm-flesh.

Darkness closes in, guillotine-like -

a child comes running and

puts her arms around the figure's

waist. He lifts her up and they walk

by. Eyes separate, distance grows -

All that's left behind is a fleeting

moment and two churned-up

Insides.

By Sunrit Majumder