Word Is A... by Lareena Abdul Haq Poem by Lareena Abdul Haq

I held the word of grief
on my palm.
It rose like a butterfly
and flew

It swam on singing the song
of the sparrow that lost its nest
Flowers of fire drifted
on the wind river delta.

Betrayal is a flower that induces pain.
A flesh eater.
It will become an attractive blanket,
swallow and digest you.

Faded promises
lay under the feet
of someone or the other
wandering like withered leaves

To pass the night of great grief
I turned memories
into a raft.
Pain rose in waves.
Your lone kiss
made drifting
possible.

Love is a grief.
Love is a consolation.
Love is a fire.
Love is a snowfall.

Translated into English by Sri Vatsa.