Your absence

Animitra Mallick

Your absence is like a desolate house on a mountain top
The fierce wind passes through its rooms
The windows rattle all day
I don't dare to close its door
Lest you come and go away without peeping in
The snow drives into my house in full fury
Painting everything white
Like my heart that has learnt to hide its scars
I wipe my room clean everyday
I have to live within your absence
And feel you in the enormous night
Countless stars through the window 
Write your absence
Or is it your presence?
Your absence and presence  lie side by side
Like two photographs
One melting into the other in rain...

Last night you came in my dream
Like a gentle rain that glided over my house
Now it is deadly quiet
And my soul is still dripping...