Gather Ye Atoms While Ye May Poem by Mandira Mitra

When I have paid my elemental debts
And returned to stars their dusty gifts
Fires to suns, to oceans tears
To mother earth with a vote of thanks for her years
Of coolie work, a spirit heavy with grief
And hear with an equally heavy heart
Her sigh of relief,
Then my love, shall I turn to you
And seek your love without benefit of arts
Unencumbered, in little parts.
No more in words, but in miniature things
Shall I come, hummingbirds’ wings
Maidens’ moles, roulette dices
Pomegranate seeds, champagne ices
Quiver incarnate on a polar stork’s quill
Or safety pins on a virgin’s espadrille.
So shall you never, as now things be
Complaine of having too little of me.
In such tiny ways might I love you night and day
Gather ye, love, atoms while ye may.