Ready To Connect

By Neesha Rumi

Lying around and thinking

About that post-punk

Music list that I need

‘Ready to connect’,

Says the Bluetooth speaker

Slumber washes over me

As twilight dwindles into dark

I dream – I woke up in your arms

Your eyes closed in reverie –

That is –

A string of visions –

Fears and desires

(Or are they one and the same?)

‘Ready to connect’

The speaker intrudes into my state

Of semi-consciousness

The light of dreams

The shade of wakefulness

I dream still – You opened your eyes

You said – ‘list of post-punk music’

You pulled me closer

(Did you? Could you pull me closer?

What with the distance

Of so many feet between us

As we remain

Locked)

‘Ready to connect’

I reach out and try

To stop the speakers

From waking me into

The darkness of the late evening

I have always been frightened of waking up

In the dark – alone

‘Ready to connect’

I’m awake

In the hour of falling night –

Scared and –

‘Ready to connect’

By Neesha Rumi