This is not goodbye

This is not goodbye

(For Ruth Torty)

The songs waiting to be sang

from the elder’s mouth with a bang

tears of absence flow freely

to meet at the confluence of the heart

those hugs, fitly spoken words painted on lips

like the rainbow popping out of the clouds.

This is not goodbye.

The time has come

the lion and goat feed together

a stitch in time saves more than nine

the vivacious roost sings.

This is not goodbye.

The gong sounds

to show that home’s calling

the rhythm of life and love

the atmosphere of home.

But then, this is not goodbye.

The Experience

(For Racheal Torty)

It was meant to simmer atmosphere of excitement

today, the red roofs shone with beads of the morning dew

the crickets walked to sleep

the smiling sun gave the sky its adornment

from the prison of my bed

I freed myself from the blanket that had glued itself to me

a new day began

so the rat race

all of me

plummeted to the secretariat

to see life basking

in the passion of the day

never to know

today was different

the unflinching duende, warm hug, live wire of words all boxed for me

as a gift unexpected

first, it was shadows

followed by glimpses

then the silhouette transcended

more elegant than the full moon

more radiant than the starry inked sky

more energetic than the blazing sun

I saw her

she was unveiled

it wasn’t a dream

the magnificent eyes blinked

to assure me it wasn’t a dream

gently, she swept the world of turmoil out of me

my lanky body sank

in the warmth of her creamy chocolate skin

it felt like God

in the shape of a lady

when she said, “I love you”

it was pure like gold tried in the furnace

or like a beautiful romantic soul music

those words were the healing balm

my heart needed

for its CPR

each sip of her smiles, gestures and words

assured me it was okay to be me

Racheal

you landed on my hard spots making them soft

with every stare and interaction

just an enthralling being in another.