Numbers

She found numbers
fascinating
and believed
there were good numbers
and bad ones
the thirteens
and other odds
besides the safer
evens

So she noticed that
there were at first five
an odd number
and not a good one
the table had room for six
but they nearly always
bought plates in fours
although she couldn't remember
a day when they all sat
around the table
for dinner
And the car had room
for five, or even six,
but that would be a slightly tight fit
and yet,
there was never a day
when they all sat
there
in that little red car

Now there were four
a safer number
even
comfortable
there were always enough
plates of the same design
and dividing food
into equal shares
was much easier
even though
she couldn't remember
ever having to divide treats
into five equal shares
when they were a family of five
and not four
Her mother now bought
items and food
in even numbers
so much more easier
she even bought meat in
two pairs
'four chicken thighs'
she would ask
even though of the four
only three
ate meat
and the other who did
left
making them a family of
four and not five

during that time

During the time it takes
for message to be
typed
read
questioned
sent
delivered
received
read
reread
replied to
reply to be delivered
read

The skies have changed color
the river has journeyed to ocean
the birds have called it a day
the faint glimmer of stars cover sky

During that time
when actions are regretted
decisions are questioned
risks are taken
minds are made

Hearts have changed
thoughts have shifted
love has come
and love has gone

Last year

Last year
I was naive
Eager to impress
Eager to have my own
Happily ever after

Last year
I was eager
So eager I was blinded by
Your pretenses
Too eager, I was

This year
I am slightly tired
Tired enough to see the truth
But not tired enough to
Deny it

This year
I have no hopes
About my own
Happily ever after
Like I did with you

This year
I'm happy
I have my own infinity
But I know it will end
I didn't know back then

Last year
I chose touch over feeling
Stupid me
But this year
I chose feeling over touch
Finally

Is love the mere changing of relationship status?

Single

A shout into the void

About your loneliness

Desperation

Fear

A subtle way of saying

I'm available

Make me yours

In a relationship

You tell the world

You show off

You suffocate your friends

With the love

You made your own

To say, I'm not noone's

I belong

to someone

Engaged

Happiness is mine

You say

Even though

You said yes

To his question

Knowing that

You will be his

And he mayn't be yours only

Married

We are one

We are together

We are the fairytale

That is real

Envy what I have

A man by my side

A contract that binds

Two souls

Forever

In an open relationship

I have freedom

I can love many

I was given that option

An option I didn't want

So while he

Has many

I have none but him

But a status that implies

I have more

It's complicated

No longer a shared life

But love that is dying

Lives separating

A deparate attempt

To hold on to

What is already

Lost

Separated

Tree trunk

Reaches sky as one

Giving it strength to

Stand against winds

But then branches

Separation

A contract still binding

But no longer paid heed to

Divorced

Ugly status

That followed

Ugly words

Ugly actions

Ugly decisions

Ugly lives

Sometimes for the best

Mostly due to

Having no choice

But to sign those papers

To say good bye

Widowed

Through sickness and health

Smiles and tears

Bright days and dark days

Together

Till death do us part

And death did

Took one from bedside, home, life

To graveyard

මී බෙහෙත්

මී බෙහෙත් දාමු

මරමු

කුඩුවක් නෙමෙයි

කූරක් ගමු

උන් චීස් කන්නේ නැහැ

බොරු වැඩ ඕව

මහා කරදරයක්

මරල දාමු

පවු සිද්ද වෙයි

ඔය මීයෙක් මැරුවා කියලා?

මීයාත් අහිංසක සතෙක්නෙ

හැපුවම තේරෙයි

ඔයාටත් තේරෙයි

මීබෙහෙත් වල අගේ

වැරදීමකින් ඒ බෙහෙත් ටික

ඔයාගේ ළමය කෑවම

Wind

Cold wind
wraps around her like a
blanket
instead of warmth
it chills her to the bone
and for a second
a short, quiet second
her icy cold heart
shivers
the gush of wind
reaching the core
of her soul

Before we fight each other...

Before we fight each other
Before we preach and then kill
Before we organize meetings
Before we form armies

We must find solutions
We must be kind
We must learn to love
We must give and give even more



Beggars lie on pavement
Skin clinging to bone
Hands unused to the feeling of coin
Life knowing nothing but pain

Scared, the boy runs away from
Rarely-present-at-home father
The strong smell of cheap liquor
Coating each beating, each abusive word

Her feet fail her
Unable to take her any further
She falls on the hot gravel
Looks back to see if he's still chasing her

Innocent animal, large wondering eyes
He's scared and backs away on to a wall
He feels the cool blade slicing through his neck
Blood spills as life leaves him, now a mere chunk of meat

Mosquito flies from man to man
Looking for a sip of blood
Hungry for food she lands on skin
Only to be slapped by man

Whimpering, it howls and cries
Orders and loud voices don't help it calm down
It yelps when broom hits him
A silent night follows

half-kiss

A light touch
of lips on cheek
a kiss, it was not
half-kiss, maybe

She leans in
towards him
feeling the warmth
wanting more

He sighs
moves away
looks at her
then leaves

She reaches out
but he's gone
all that's left is
a half-kiss

Gentleness of death

He doesn't feel the gentleness of death

As it slows his breath, his heartbeat

Of destination he is oblivious

As he takes steps to his plot in a graveyard

He smiles as though life is never ending

Lives through each day dreaming of eternity

A firm believer in forever

He doesn't know his story is soon ending

Death though forgets not a single man

To have ever been born

He smiles with the baby, moments ago born

Tells him with life, also comes death

The baby forgets Death's words as he grows older

And so doesn't believe he will soon be dust and ashes

In denial he lives of the dark, dead future

And so Death takes him by surprise always

Last year

Last year

You asked me to stay

When I wanted to leave

This year

You told me I could leave

Anytime I wanted to

Last year

You were someone I

Respected and even loved

This year

You are someone I

Detest and have no respect for

Last year

I was happy

Always smiling

This year

It's difficult to get through

A day without crying

Last year

You asked me

If everything was alright

This year

You walk past me

Without even noticing