Bereft

Each time you come,
My heart fills up-

Each time, then again,
You take a chunk away,
As you leave.

The yawning gap-
A hollow of yearning;

A receptacle waiting-
For you to fill
Within me.

And-
Each time, I tell myself
It's going to be
Different, this time;

(Knowing full well,
It can never be;)

How I'll keep that
Treasure-trove of love within;
How I'll stack
My worries and anxieties: Separate.
How I'll be stoic, and smile,
Warmly, reassuringly-

Hug you, squeeze your hand,
And thump you on the back!

And, as you walk away-
Slowly, but surely;
Each step, pulling away-
I do, all of these things:
Smile, and hug,
And pump your hand!

Then...
My worries and anxieties stack-
Only, they become that receptacle,
Bereft
Of a treasure-
Waiting to be filled again-
Collecting the lone tear drop
That suddenly drips
Off the edge of my eye.

You turn,
And I flash my
Dazzling smile-

Au revoir, dear one.

I can wait-
As I always have
Till we meet again.

Dear God,
(Just this)
I pray,

Soon!




Usha, 24 March, 2008