What Ain't Treasured!

By Karthika Rajan

I remember

When your friends called to meet me

You resented and said you didn't want to share me with anyone

And I felt treasured

I was your after party

The imported wine you take home

To savour with your oversized feeling

To knit stars to your daydreams

To be your mouth's prisoner

While you lie in a settee, sleepy from too much wine

Yesterday I walked past your home

And I wondered if you had friends around

or if you had someone you resented sharing

I almost wanted to walk in and tell you

Not everything that wasn't shared was treasured.

As the stranger that you become at 3.05 am on a drunken night

That's the most dangerous person to be with.

That’s the person you shouldn't have shared me with.

I almost wanted to walk in and tell you

Not everything that you resented sharing

Was loved in full.

By Karthika Rajan