When the dusk falls

Often I am alone with my loneliness

Peeping out of the brown wooden window

A sparrow extracting ice from its nest

Thinking spring is not far behind

An owl sitting on a twig

Waiting for someone to arrive

Beyond the lane, I see woods

And I slip more into our memories

Your footprints on icey pathway are gone

I saw them last, an evening before you left

At the end of the woods the graveyard freshens the scene

I turn away to shudder

And you are there on your couch

I think of you all more

© Priyanka Bajaj

Her Warm Smile

The kid was more hungry,

She hid her hunger behind her warm smile

He was excitedly calling her loser,

She hid her deliberate defeat behind her warm smile

He relished hot chappatis,

She hid the cold ones behind her warm smile

He said, "you are so lucky to rest all day at home",

She hid exertion behind her warm smile

He was congratulated for his promotion,

She hid her efforts of investing her soul, time, life in making his home, behind her warm smile

He teased her in the streets,

On reaching home, she hid her hurt behind her warm smile

She lives more for others,

And burn her desires, hides it behind her warm smile

Her compassion touching sky and is grounded at heart,

Your well being and happiness is the reason behind her warm smile.

© Priyanka Bajaj

Three Words, He Didn't Say

You spoke to me about everything

Alas! One song, you didn't sing

You wrote letters and mails

Poems, verses, their long trails

You said I am beautiful

I became hopeful

You spoke about our love and care

But to say those three words, the time you didn't spare

I waited, I longed, I craved

Thinking someday you will say, that you have saved

Didn't you mention, "Without me, you can't stay"

Then why didn't you say, "let's run away"

©Priyanka Bajaj