Lilies

 

decked with the winter's mist,

the lilies spring into bloom,

every time i stop by them,

as if they've been waiting,

as if they too have been missing 

the warmth, 

dying for your touch.

they remind of you,

every strand, every wrinkle

every pulse,

that come alive,

the shy smiles that lipped out 

the unworded joy,

as you held out your sketch,

the puffs of smoky clouds

that half hid the sun,

as if everything was about to plunge

into a sudden dark,

as if you knew them coming.

as my gaze shifted,

what i saw, is frozen in memory

your eyes wore a tense anticipation

and, read each blink of mine.

the calm smile,

didn't give away

the drying up of your mouth,

the blood rushing to cheeks,

as you mumbled my verses,

punctuated by a long gaze,

met my eyes, as if to ask something,

'how similar!'

as your mind ruled the heart,

and you gulped the words

but your eyes -

they didn't follow either,

as they melted in mine!

every time,

you found me,

where you came looking,

you vanished, 

as abrupt, as you appeared

like that rare moment of sunshine,

on a winter afternoon,

here now, and gone the next

but you left behind a smile,

and a well of hope

did your lips also curl up 

into a smile, 

as you thanked the small mercies?

little did i know,

how painfully long it's going to be.

the year's gone by,

wonder how long more?

i keep waiting

for the stars to shine,

and your smile to meet mine,

little do you know, my life,

how lonely, it feels here

does it feel the same,

do you also see dreams,

with eyes wide open,

the way my eyes do?

© sashikant mohanty