don't ask me for a happy tale tonight in this purple evening, these chandelier lights dripping grime and the candles floating on water they seal my lips with molten wax ask me not for a happy tale tonight don't ask me to hold your hand tonight the days when loving hearts bled in us, those carefree days of laughter i have braided into desolation threads of anguish bind my fingers now don't ask me to hold your hand tonight don't ask me to touch, don't tempt me- your skin, smooth coolness at my touch that was once, that was then i have waded through rivers of sorrow my sun is now dark with tears don't tempt me tonight with your touch let's just sit then, face to face friends, enemies, lovers, poets beyond the death of being strangers one hand a scimitar, the other a rose let me see your eyes, in the ashes of pain let us sit then, face to face again.
amit mukerjee
february 2 2005