A flower in my barren garden

A long time ago

I owned a luscious garden

From where I could go

To the house of stones which never got hardened

I could walk on them like dust on cotton

I could bathe in the river

Sing in the medow

Dance in the forest

Watch the sky glow

A long long time ago...

My garden was a retreat

A retreat for my brain

With Jasmines smelling

Roses blooming

Bogainvillea,

pink, white and yellow

Lilies singing to my nose

a song of repose

And tonight I sing to thee

the song that flutters in my belly

a fire that ignited me in Delhi

and burnt my garden

I sit alone in my deserted garden

dunking my head in my legs

think of you and your sweet smelling air

much sweeter than my Jasmines

My flowers never came back to life

because they knew

to compete with thee

they'll have to blow up the air

with a smell that now intoxicates me

the weeds in garden

are taking over

and intoxicating me more

They know,

I know,

the weeds know,

that I need you more,

Much more than before...

I still own the garden

but it's barren now

it doesn't smell like before

just some reminisce of your perfume

 soft touch and breath

englufs me when I take my Juhu walks

on the concrete that's hardened now

the rivers are thirsty for your reflection

the foresets want you to dance with me

the lilies want us to sing together

They know,

I know,

the Bougainvilleas know,

that you are the flower in my barren garden...