Almost

By Srijani Roy Chowdhury

Why is it so bittersweet at night?

Like the ‘almosts’ in a romantic movie.

Or, my songs about you.

Or, the river that has almost reached its destination.

The ‘almosts’ are a pathetic bunch

I ‘almost’ finished it

I ‘almost’ found my keys

and I ‘almost’ caught him.

I ‘almost’ loved.

But the warnings rang through my ears,

and I ‘almost’ did not.

Until your eyes met mine,

and we vibed together.

As Tony Bennett sang

‘You look beautiful tonight’,

on a broken radio,

that everyone ‘almost’ remembers to repair.

Almost is a funny word.

It reminds you of all the other words you could’ve blaberred out,

had your tears cooperated,

and your throat did not ache.

It reminds you of the chances you didn’t take,

the failures that only made you stronger.

The risks, the heartbreaks, the stories.

The journeys that you took,

the goodbyes that you could never write.

But the pens know how hard you’ve tried,

and you ‘almost’ wrote them on time.

By Srijani Roy Chowdhury