08/05/2026
My wish is to fall asleep,
Not for sleep's sake.
But to fetch you once again,
For another stroll to take.
I will tell you as much as it may have been your time,
The Earth has stopped for me, and the stars have unaligned.
My heart has broken into a million pieces, too.
And it will never return to again be true.
My wish is to fall asleep,
Not for sleep’s sake.
But to hear the intercom ring
“Hey Pragash, it’s Dad, let me in.”
I will tell you that the sandwich maker remains unused.
The teacup is empty, the couch is alone, and the floors are confused.
The wall is cracking and folding in on itself
My heart implodes. I am dust on the shelf.
My wish is to fall asleep,
Not for sleep's sake.
But to say "Dad, I love you."
I didn't know what was at stake.
I will tell you your jests were far from lies.
It’s true that a volcano erupts from my eyes
The lava found its way to settle in my heart space
For your absence, there is no place.
Yet, my wish is to be awake.
Not for wake’s sake.
But not to rise in the morning
To the birds that sing their warning.
I would rather risk having my vision blurred,
As far as my mind is concerned, you are deterred.
All neatly preserved in a cubicle in my brain,
For that, you’re still alive, it has feigned.
My wish is to be awake,
Not for wake’s sake.
But not to unlock the door
To memories ten crore.
I would rather wait for your name to announce
My cellphone will once again in delight dance.
You know the stubbornness with which I am born.
In wakefulness, I will meet every dawn.
My wish is to be awake,
Not for wake’s sake.
To sing a lullaby
“Hush, baby, don’t cry.”
Crows circle ahead, elephants trumpet in mourning
Whale’s weeping fills the ocean, as the crane takes flight in longing.
Rocking myself into a slumber is my only choice
For I will shut my eyes to listen to only one voice.
My wish is to fall asleep and be carried away by the peace of the night.
My wish is to stay awake and remember you in the same light.
Peace
PN
❤️
