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UNDERGROUND VOICES: POETRY
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KANISHKA GUPTA
Predetermined Death The night is well-illuminated The door is just one gentle shove away The floors are not greasy and won’t make you slip Nor are they harsh so that you make a sound But feel welcome to make one- I will start singing a song I wish we could converse with one another- or howsoever many you are The flight of stares is Italian marble- don’t waste time glaring at it I am the real sufferer- not the victim- you are just desperate and in need I understand- and I want you to be careful while walking up- For my death depends on your life- it is very necessary that you live You reach the top and you see two dogs tied to the pantry door Don’t feel intimidated- I’ve adequately sedated them You will hear a man snoring- he is my drunken father My mother is alive- yes he is not alone- but she sleeps hard Spare them- and their miserable lives- I’ve looted all the money It's eagerly awaiting for you- I’ve crushed the wads in my hands It’s a little heavy- sweaty- but your landlord will accept it Or your partner in crime waiting at home- Covering your cold, inedible food- or whatever you call it with the drape of her garment or the car-dealer where you first decided that the heavy wheels of dreams- will have to go over my body- you can hear the jangling of the brand new keys But you resist-or desist- faith doesn’t allow you time- and you open the first door On the right- you see me- with my wrists slashed- and drunk on rum and valium I forgot that you’d have to wash and iron the notes- pray they are serviceable You look at me- surprised- you take out your rifle- I feel elated You tear the bullet through my head and a part of my cerebral chunk flies over And sticks to the computer- you grab the notes fitfully- and take one look at that bloody , gooey mass- then you go your way I go mine Kanishka Gupta is a twenty four year old writer and absurdist poet from New Delhi, India. She has written four novels currently under consideration for publication and has written a collection of poems titled ' Megalomania and other poems' |
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© 2006 Underground Voices |
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