A Poem For 12/12/2017 Poem by Anuraag Sharma

When I look back you are there
when I look sideways you are again there.
I feel you occasionally though.
The warmth of your shadow seeps
in, goes down my skin.
A May in December blooms forth
within. The substantial shadow
shades my insubstantial soul and
I feel coolly warm.
The passing year played Lock and Key
with us both…when I sat down—locked
and down with DVT, you were there
to touch me and bring me back
to life with a fingered key. And when once again
you're there in hospital nursing a part of
your being, let these words play the key
to make you breathe a bit of life.
A planned coincidence binds us together, doubles
your experience and singles out 2017.
Celebration of twin b'days in vitro—
in the midst of green aprons—is a mutual
padmapani blessing the shadow,
the shadow's shadow. Time's Lock and Key game
is on. On must we play together.