Desiderium

By Seher Pokhariyal

Apu dreams of dinosaurs in love.

that meet in the foliage of ancient moors

and steal quiet, knowing glances

grateful that the billion year dance

of stardust and atoms

has fashioned their beloved

who now shares with them

leaves and meat and

(pre)historic earth—

a love thats

electric,

meteoric.

Apu dreams of sparrows

and humming birds

sipping liquid starlight

out of raspberry chalices

and tangerine goblets—

indulging

sweet and saccharine

lunar

seductions

to keep warm

on a buttercup bed

in the crisp breeze of autumn

that crystallises

light bone.

Apu dreams of cobble-stoned Christmas towns

where carols are exchanged

for butterscotch candy—

a currency that delights

and barters in good wishes,

sugar dust,

and the promise

of gifts around every corner

all for the tune

of a hearty, happy song.

A pen is

a wishbone of whimsy

and wonder

and plenty—

upon which

Apu wishes to wish

and dreams to dream

to take flight

to mossy moors

buttercup beds

and tinsel towns—

he searches the ravines and dumps

sifts through human waste

forgotten, abandoned

for the glitter of a nib.

No luck today,

never mind,

there's always the promise of another day

some more work

some more savings.

Ten rupees more

till he unlocks

his doorway to anywhere.

By Seher Pokhariyal