|| exploration ||

you

explore within me

the subterranean river

i explore within

you

the nameless ocean

that sweeps the body away

you

address the

unaddressed cave home

in my heart

your touch is inscribed

with your name

for the damp-warm

comfort of the soul

with the eyes of your fingers

you dig my bleak mountains

and create a fragrant

succulent valley of flowers

the soul knows

the divine comfort

of the nature of life

|| picture ||

hanging on the wall

your picture would have

turned it in a breathing body

like an eternal lamp

your picture would have

turned a part of the wall

into a sacred niche

that part of the wall

would have grown two palms

eager to hold your picture

with the spring imbued

sweep of your eye

that section of the wall

would have turned

into a vast canvas

gathering thick like

clouds your picture

would have turned

that portion of the wall

into the sky

covering a portion

the size of the heart

your picture would have

turned the wall

into an animate entity

hanging on the wall

your picture

would have acquired

eyes restless as

the waiting beloved

who like your

liquid eyes

prepares the sky

for the dreamy cloud of alpana.

(Painting : Philippe Zanolino)

|| practitioner ||

my eyes contain your picture

they are your album

within me

the voice of love echoes and plays

like a new raga

and sings unwavering

like a practitioner

in my heart

beat your heartbeats

my breath constant

in the practice of love

like the sculptor of khajuraho

i created a living sculpture of love

you unveiled it

in my eyes

|| dream canvas ||

i have

your words

and you have

my silence

with you are

my restless dreams

with me

the world

of your desire

on the canvas

of dreams

i paint bright

luscious colors

and give them names

unforgettable

like you

in my memory

live your words

the true companions

of loneliness

in the golden palm

of sun rays

i place the

eternal kiss

of the loving glance

i imbue

aline winds

with love scented dream-breath

and turn a strange word

intimate

as children

create sand-castles

living dream play

in the reality of life

in the expanse of your being

i sow the seeds

of my desire

awaiting the footfall of creation

my heart beats to

the sound of love.

(Painting : Kappari Kishan)

|| i earn you ||

as the earth

earns from the sun

her day

as breath

earns from the wind

pulse

as one earns
from the river
water and sanctity

as one earns

from god

grace

as one earns

from the sun

heat and energy

in relinquishing

myself

i earn you

from you.

(Painting : Claudia Stach)