“Damnation” : A Poem by Deepa Rajkumari ID-DU2024BAS0123 Department of English

A call when Helios blinds my eyes, 
Making me leap up from the soft coat. 
Stories that never saw an ending; 
The regret that still churns my stomach. 

To this day, I shall remember 
How black my heart was. 
To this day, I shall remember 
How I heeded those doting eyes. 
To this day, I shall remember 
How precious those days were. 

That cup of tea I refused to make 
Will forever haunt me, 
Till I turn gray and flow with the wind. 

The machines remain intact with the memories; 
The house still stands strong; 
The courtyard, filled with laughter of the past. 
I still remember how you showed 
Those little rays of blue in the golden ribbons 
That make the colors of the world. 

There is not much in my mind, 
Yet I want to conceal everything you taught. 
But along the flow of time, 
I am afraid these things 
Will slip away from me. 

I miss how I ran to you with those pieces of paper, 
Those papers held weight to you,
 With them, I could carve a crescent in your wrinkled moon. 

Come and hold my little hands Like you used to.
I shall forever open the gates of my dreams, 
For it is the only way I can embrace you again. 

With guilt filling the void, 
I shall forever grieve, my eyes forever filled.