Inaugural Issue

Who touched and woke you up
Which hand bestowed you eyesight
Whose body you are departing from
Whose body you are leaping towards
Is it a dream or reality,
In the dark empty space...

you look so good when you smile; I remember
those moonlit winter nights -
it is not that they resemble you, but
it is just that I like them a lot! oh, I know
I do know that these
are all metaphors, words upon words...

I thought I heard a soft thud
At the door
I opened it, but there was no one there
The street was empty as if the people
Had with one accord
Sought hibernation...

'I'm one of fourteen siblings,
 I found out all of my siblings have the same birthday,’ my father said.
Some of them were qawwali singers
Others were magicians;
Specialized in curing grief, and agony.
‘I loved all of them –...

sit on the banks of Benares 
with Sant Kabir in my lap 
breathing the ancient scriptures.
The air settles in moist colours 
of marigold desires.
My soul is smeared with sindoor...

We are the angry men
We are the confused men
Confronting each other
Our heads filled with rage.
When we shout at each other
Our voices are loud and meaningless...