Firefly

Once again another evening, devoid of you
as they all are. Today when my head burns with fever
my lips are hot and dry. I need you more than I can say.

A teaser of a breeze, lifts the hair off my nape
tiny leaves rustle in gratitude and then in the
silence is the gentle ring of the phone - it’s you....

I listen to your voice and clutch it like a life saver
eyes closed, I draw it around myself like a shawl -
just the sound of it, rich, alive and so very dear

and while my whole soul listens to you
with a tiny whirr, something lands on my hand
it is a tiny firefly, nosing around on my palm

her cool green light is on my warm fingers
glowing through the gaps the jugnu peeps out
peeps out and then goes back in again

in my ear, your voice is friendly, bantering, teasing
I close my eyes and make a wish,
not on any star but on my tiny jugnu...

And then…

Next to me are you, lying on the bed
I curl up next to you and put my weary head
on your chest.

My hair fans out on your shoulders
mingling with your beard
under my ear is your heart, strong and steady

the hand holding the jugnu is on your chest too
there is not a single word between us,
your long fingers stroke my hot temples

with tightrope grace explore your body
on your taut skin, circling a birthmark, snuffling through curls
pausing at the pulse throbbing in your throat

watching her your eyes too become heavy
the lids drop down and our breaths play hide and seek
mine are fast, feverish ones and yours calm, at peace

leaving our sleeping forms
jugnu flies to the window
where through the window pane she falls in love

with the blue moon
I wake up with your scent in my nostrils
I look at you, stirring now too, with my movements

the lovely eyes open and look around disoriented
and then you see me, lit dimly in the last of the moonlight
face happy now- fever’s gone, and my lips are eager

your arm reaches out and pulls me closer
once again there I am, next to you,
within listening distance of your heartbeat.

I put my lips on the strong throb, and it skips a beat.
My love, is this a dream?