I was strolling in memory lane
It swooped me and carried me to this dark cave
Mountains of red grave,
It’s alley after alley of compressed voices
Silent shrieks of ‘can’t’ ‘won’t’ ‘shouldn’t’
Chains of pain ropewalk have been forcefully cut before
This cold, sinister place
I have lost but my only comfort
I have walked here before
I cut that steel chain that stopped my feet from dancing
Something tells me I won’t walk out
Unscratched
Yet something also tell me, I returned
Unfazed
I am looking for the warmest corner
This cave holds me in for couple of days
Covered in tattered pieces,
A creature comes here
They covered themselves then ate away the woollen scarf I bought here
It had mosaic of flowers in rust gold and yellow
Now they are crumbs of spitted hope
It’s only for something
My warmth will hold
I sat there awaiting the creature
I didn’t realise, I am
Sitting on a grave of mementos
Of Puppy love, worth, self belief
Disco dancing, pencil boxes and picture frame, key chains
I came to retrieve
take them back to the garden
I leave another scarf
White and orange paisleys this time
For the creature who guards these memento
He left hooks to find himself back here,
I wish I could take it into light
She is accustomed to playing in dark and guarding her shade…
Rupika Moitra
Flutter and Glide 