Kingdoms

The Bards twaddle elsewhere

The Nymphs lost in trance

The Prince in smoky twirls

The Monk in a pretentious garb

The Cook stealing ingredients

The Queen questioning The Mirror

The Priest in an unmeant prayer

The Farmer missing an arable square

The Thief stocking up his lair

The soldier keeping them all alive

More

I'm more.

More than my smile, my eyes
More than my body: my front and my back
More than my sweat or my perfume

I'm more, much more than my tired breath
I'm more than my success,
Certainly far more than my failures.
I'm more than my moods, my tears
More than my clothes
More than my shoes

I'm more.

I'm more than my weight
More than the gradesheet and the resumé
More than the words I write
More than the acts I don't
More than the promises I won't

I'm more than the lines on my palm
More than what the stars align for me
More than what the crystal ball says

Yes, I'm more.
I'm more than my internet page
More than my status updates
More than the gifts I get
More than the friends I beget
More than the men I date

I'm more than what you know.
I'm more than what you think of me.
I'm more a person than you deem me to be

I'm more than the shackles that hold me back
Or the trail that I leave behind
More than the charity I give
More than the love you seek
More than my acts prove me to be

I'm more. Much more.
And no one can take it away from me.

Glimpse of Nothing

Outstretched, heightened..
My hands can barely reach you anymore

From the oasis of your love
All I see now are the glimpses of nothing
In this barren desert of loss

Your memories light up like stars at night
Illuminating a sea of nothing
By scattered specks of lost joys

My body, tired of wandering across the sands
Still can't sleep in the shadows of dead hope
Nor succumb to the vultures waiting

How did this happen?
Us?

Did the angel really take you away?
Because I can't seem to get rid of your thoughts
Your words, your love

Are you in a happy place now?
I hope so dear.
Just don't look back and smile, like every time you did.

Giants

Staring at giants
In awe and praise
In their haloed grace

Trying to steal
A potion of their charms
Kind, caring giants

Tales of heroism
Gossips of horrors
And shows of strength

Ghosts of the past
Lust of treasures
Habits for the future

Monstrosities some neat
Some bloodthirsty and raw
And then some masters of finesse

Giants of actions
Giants of words
Giants of thought

Seeking them giants
Blessing them giants
Sought by none at all

Replacement

I can't lie to myself.
I may hold hands,
but those won't send jolts
Of electricity and love
As does your touch..

I may seek quaint solace
in husky, grainy, deep voices
But none will have
your tender innocence
when calling my name

Hug I may many
Some taller, some shorter
But none can hug me
And take me to a safe place
Like you do

Who am I fooling here?
It's you. Always you.
Standing out of the crowds
Countries away
Yet deep within, a part of me

Strangers. Friends. Lovers.
More than the last day.
Moments. Meets. Memories.
More and then some more
Turn back and look darling!

A decade of distance
Of time and space and mind
With glorious pauses within
No, there's no replacement
Of you and me and we..
Of you and me and we!

The Secret-keeper

You come in wordlessly
Seek my hand
Barely a whisper
Yet I understand

We build a secret
Hidden away from all
Wondering within whether
They'll figure it all

Intentionally avoided glances
Carefully plucked words
Our ears keep guaging
Songs of little birds

The curtains fold
The lights be dim
As ideas exchange
Words be abrim

We lock in here
Our scarlet blood secret
Our follies, our fears,
Our deeds of regret

We build a shelter
To hide from ourselves
From our bitter past
And our grim, dreadful delves

We collude somehow as
The world cuts us deeper
Did I just quicken you pulse,
O my secret keeper?!