The Bliss
By Rubeena Anjum
After The Kiss, by Gustav Klimt (Austria) 1907.
dare me, daunt me, doubt me
let rages run high like tides
blizzards echo our names in the wind
wrath from beneath the fossils
reduce you; reduce me to nothing
thence we rise from the wastelands
and uncover frontiers before us
not a word, not a sigh, don’t look
let it happen, sightlessly
wars men fight and lose
cities shrink, cemeteries grow
wailing women bury their children
in vertical rains that never stop
such fright and grief and pain
radiant colors of life rolled
like land and sky fringed afar
my black eyes and yours so blue
messages need no conduit
from my land, I bring magic spells
rich spices, breathtaking aromas
such scents that’ll benumb you
barefooted, I have danced alone
smitten to death one-eyed pirates
worn amulets to ward away ills
to be a moon, befriended the hills
the tree on which voices grow
each leaf bears my name
so much has happened till so far
from nowhere did the waters rose
indolent angels slept as Tsunami struck
and tucked so many in the graves_
the river moves when glaciers glide
the fall is sure when thoughts collide
alongside in our stances, we slide
you beside me, the divide getting wide
how can we walk side by side?
for ages, I have stood alone
stayed away, set sails spurred on
now, if you look at me, I’ll falter
blown away with a breath, scatter_
fertile lands and ripening grains
will tell my story to the rising sun
of how I felt and stood so still
hush! Not even a hint, distantly
ages have passed reluctantly
mountains falling like flakes
actions stored in whorls and loops
fields of tulips covered with mines
nuclear arms and so much more
lakes of gloom, rivers of blood
seeds of drought sowed in dust
conspiracies wheeling campaigns
let me have it all from your heart
a flash, a flicker to flame a wick
white doves with cropped wings
are writhing under the fiery night
sirens, ambulances and more blasts
could cities be built in a day?
my goblet filled with hemlock
in yours, I have poured some reason
cravings grow in emerald season
doubts are cultured; curled to a coil
you beside me, around us, is turmoil
while you gather me in your arms
I am as scared of rivets as you are
apparent heirs are droning pranks
selling conflict, cheering peace
impacts portrayed in pie charts_
let’s not cuddle hypothetical fears
see vultures and imagine nightingales
in my eyes are rubies as big as pears
pretend what you see is real
winds have a way of talking
to orange trees before the snow
dark dripping nights, wet and cold
it is me, myself shedding leaves
changing steadily like the landscape
naked trees have limited choices
heads hung in shame never complain
the expectations are green once more
in my shades, sit lovers yet again
when you never speak, bases bawl
armies clash, borders get displaced
mothers suckling blood, young ones
grow in streets wrecked by aerial strikes
many winters pass and souls trapped
in rubbles of hate and anger, slowly
get up to build homes, firmly fixed
finally, they stand on rocks of faith
hopes watered with regrets capped
you beside me and behind us
front-runners are playing mind games
selling conflict, talking peace,
impacts we see in colored graphs_
awakened that we are now, be brave
let’s not embrace hypothetical fears
windswept smears; sunburnt sears
pretend what you see are not tears
in my eyes are rubies as big as pears
Eden where orchids ooze honey
daisies glitter in grass sprayed with shine
petals, leaves, stems and dangling twigs, all gold
bronzed sugar, creamy latte, baked apple pie
shades of beige, peach, pineapple, and melon
maize and millets, mustard seeds, and corn
ardor, fire, flames, olive oil, butter, and saffron
lemonish sky sending amber, apricot rains
a bed of bliss stretched to settle scores
What’s love? Do you believe in me?
betwixt you and me and around is love
help me explore the language of hues
like silvery fishes’ let’s swim in strides
like seals, relax on balmy sands
like sunburst lilies sing our songs
like roses, love our prickly thorns
like candles burn our spines, may
wars drown in seven seas of love
in squares of black and brown and beige
in triangles hidden in rectangles around
your cartography is different than mine
patterned in circles and discs, I have
corrections inked inside my clothing
cherries, strawberries, plums, and roots red
cloaked in flags of consent, you and me
my feet jingling with engaging mergers
planting kisses, imagine the reap, so rich, so deep
sunlight, twilight, light far beyond
just you and me and those like us together
we scatter dreams, wherever we are,
and seeds sown with love are networks of amity_
hold me close,
so close your heart beats in mine a paradise, safe,
secure and serpent free eyes closed,
I want to savor each glow you and me,
let’s create Topkapi skies night falls on Bosphorus and stars toss shine
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Dr. Rubeena Anjum holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and is a recipient of the prestigious Hubert Humphrey Fellowship at Penn State University. She is from Pakistan and started her career as a news Sub-Editor in The Pakistan Times, Rawalpindi. She served as a Psychologist in the Pakistan Air Force. Later, due to her passion and commitment to providing quality education to girls, she established Garrison Academy for Girls and Garrison Academy for Cambridge Studies, two renowned educational institutions in Lahore. Now retired, she keeps shuttling between Istanbul, Dallas, and Lahore. She is a member of the Dallas Poets Community and the Richardson Poets Group, and her poetry book, Relationship, is awaiting publication
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