November

By Manaswini Subnivis

Little tree houses on top of the Himalayas,

That I’d imagined spending my summer with you there.

Just one though,

Because you were made for Novembers and Decembers’

And your affection, my affliction died before Valentine’s.

Your love felt like sunflowers blooming across the ends of my bronchioles,

Your words like pollen- don’t know when they’d give me flowers or allergies.

Because you were made for Novembers and Decembers.

And a January that ended everything.

I remember before you left- it was -20 outside and

The snow fell down in flurries and it was like the inside of a snow globe,

Where you kept me warm.

I’d like to remember you as the first boy I kissed,

And the first time I kissed the little freckle under your eye.

But then the New Year came and the globe split as we did,

And you kissed another for another time.

And then you said when we tried-I wouldn’t mind if you left me for another, you said,

Because we have no ties you said-

But you were both right and wrong

Because I had already tied the tether to my heart on your stead.

I won’t want to see you again even if you did,

And maybe that’s all there is to it.

You were in my Novembers and Decembers that year,

And I think I’m okay with it.

By Manaswini Subnivis