Of Your Eyes, And Mine.

By Indratapa Routh

What fascinating eyes you have!

Heard they're the windows to your soul.

I look into them all the time

While you grin, scoff or mourn.

This once I saw you watching the rain

Pupils wide in wondrous awe

Pitter-patterns on cinnamon browns

Clouds kissing the earth as you oversaw.

Buried deep in a mystery novel

Your eyes gleamed chestnut in the lamplight

Brows scrunched up, for a while confused

And with realization they were back alight.

The day we swung by that cookie store

Starved dogs being kicked at by the front door

Anger — your irises, in russet, aflame!

Resolute, as you broke them treats on the floor.

Full moon, tanpura, the magic of your voice

Lashes brushing the rims of closed eyes

Song ends, flutter open your mocha browns

A sheen of wet, you smile in pride.

What fascinating eyes you have!

I look into them all the time.

If only you would have glanced at mine

That night I had to watch you go…

They could've been windows to my soul.

If only you'd see the agony

Yearning in the depths of my coal-stained globes

Maybe you'd have found a reason to stay

But, not once did you gaze my way.

So jet blacks lie, lonely like the dark

Devoid of your warmth that made them spark.

By Indratapa Routh