Metallic pastel sky, frost-bitten
by Sarah Booij
Melbourne — forbidden city, city of lights and culture.
But I’m hiding here, in the West,
far from lights and floating balloons,
so far from where I thought I’d be.
Blood between my teeth, my gums —
swallowing with every anxious breath.
You, in another room.
Somehow I’m in trouble,
you there —
on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, X — all the things.
I dull my music,
lest it interrupt you.
It’s Sunday.
Fresh chilli on my hands.
I pretend it’s in my eye,
to explain the tears that escape.
You don’t even notice.
So why bother to hide them?
Where do the others go?
Lost in a champagne flute, salty Brut
left over from Mother’s Day —
a whole week ago.
That day passed without a word
of my world before me —
my mum, dear Annie Grace.
I remembered you.
I remember you.
I am in a holding pattern —
waiting to live,
waiting to die.
Whatever brings me closer to you
is where I want to be.
thepoetshub.com
Poet Nazir is a writer and an editor here on ThePoetsHub. Outside this space, he works as a poet, screenwriter, author, relationship adviser and a reader. He is also the founder & lead director of PNSP Studios, a film production firm.
