Numbers

Tired and bagheavy as I

walked  back from  silly laughter

the phone rang to ask me

how many steps I have walked

how many breaths I have taken

before the phone ring stopped me:

My stupid love has all such absurd

questions to tease me to madness.

 

I shot back how many minutes

you delayed in picking up the phone

he smiled back saying –

I count my minutes of missing you

my years have counted

the words not spoken, the sighs

and my love rises wavelike

on the dry beach always.

I laughed within and said – ok-

I’ll start counting till I reach

and tell you the number I break

calling your love to wait and wait.

Sabita Sahu