The Woman In The Balcony

By Tanul Maheshwari

Beneath the golden quilt,

in the darker part of the day,

the practicalities when sank,

I saw her silverine shade.

Hair as dark as the night itself,

form as bold as brass.

her coffee cup held upright,

sprinkling golden hue.

Numb stuck for as I was,

I stood there- my chest swayed.

Racing glances and vigilant sense,

she took me by my heart.

Then days did pass along,

but my obsession did not.

For the pretty balcony woman

had had my breath taken.

Then that day I lost control

and sought to make my move.

The rose wrapped and soaked in words

and expectations, and love,

I threw where her shadow had stood.

More days passed but that rose

wasn’t picked; nor was the letter read.

I saw it whither in front of me, waiting,

for the lost woman's shadow.

I retrieved it from her balcony

after the hope was washed.

The dried petals and pale papyrus

did break my heart.

But the strangest thing happened

as my leaving day stuck.

As my car pulled out,

her carriage passed me by

It was for the lifeless flower

that I had retrieved from her balcony

or for the ruthless nature of my obsession,

I will not know.

But as her shadow passed me by,

the boldness and elegance

In her eyes

did not gain my attention anymore.

By Tanul Maheshwari