POETRY

Eight international Poets today share their wealth of words with us

HOPE

By

Smriti Kumar

And when you have forgotten the colourful half-knit,

Semi transparent silk dress on a date last September

I was there.

When you have forgotten that day

You looked through parallel rays of darkness

congesting your thoughts

Or me sitting on the front-room radiator,

speaking to you the days you were sad

Giving you that warm smile and illusion

that all will be fine

You Hugged your plain old sweater of no expectation

And nothing you have to do and I’m still here why?

And if Monday never had to come

Like you thought so,

Why am I here?

And how you swore I was right

When somebody beeped the bell,

And how your heart played hopscotch if the telephone rang;

And how you finally went to Sunday dinner,

which was always a great day for butterflies

with long earrings and high heels.

I was there.

When little fingers wrapped delicate, tight

And chocolate chip cookies cherished  – I say,

when you have forgotten that,

When you have forgotten my little presentiment

That the war would be over before they got to you;

And how you finally undressed your ego with me

laying loose limbed for a moment in the weakened Bright bed clothes,

Then gently folded into each other—

When you have, I say

forgotten all that, Then you may tell, Then I may believe

You have forgotten me well.

I am, Hope.