Kiss The Spring Now Poem by Saroj Padhi

Kiss them now
under the thick veil of morning mist
where dust settles down like clots of blood
on heads of roses in untimely heat,
kiss them now or never
for lips of Spring are running dry
in throes of an unknown fever;
If you want to kiss, kiss them soon
or else you will have to kiss the dead cells
of leaves where fossils of lovers croon
in February wind's periodic, nightly wails;
spread your mat under this leafless tree
gulp down the gruel of rationed one-rupee-rice
with accompanying scent of boiling dal
from neighbour's open kitchen,
wipe your mouth
with the kerchief of a vague satisfaction
after getting done,
and pretend to rest under the bare boughs
tossed by angry strikers' slogan
till you wake up
but to secretly burn -
with fear of mafia stalking you in every corner
till the break of next dawn;
if still you haven't kissed Spring
don't wait for the blossoms to return
Saroj K. Padhi Moon Moments / Page 35
for they are now loitering
in some bank-side garbage
of your own growing city,
as bunches of nameless thorn;
it's really sad to learn
that till now you don't know
where and how to kiss Spring -
in the fort-side garden
or near Cantonment Road juice-center
at Naraj, in Biju park or a roadside bazaar!
Wherever you go
chasing Spring now a days
it seems forever to evade you
like the conjurer's rabbit
vanishing into thin air
when we prefer to hide here
in some remote corner,
in fresh ashes
of an old fire.