To Just Live

By Karthika Rajan

There are things I'm learning with being locked down

Like how I'm a warrior just by making that move from bed

Like how watering the house plants and making morning chai is the way i let the sunshine into me

Like how dragging the water can to the filter is an achievement

Like how my body is changing and it's not going to look like a model's social media feed

Like how the number of apps on my phone withers away the rose petals from life

Strangers will love me for the poetry and the way my limbs move

Yet those few will love me on those days

I'm out of fashion

I don't have to make a name out of my debris

And build followers to get celebrated

Those who know me will carry my voice to the marrow of their bones

To choose life always

Instead of candy houses of media

For its a privilege

To just know I live.

By Karthika Rajan