|| 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)