Affliction

Foreword: In the Indian epic, The Ramayana, Rama is sent by his wife Sita to capture or hunt a golden deer. It is revealed that the deer was merely an illusion cast by the demon Maricha to deceive Sita, enabling for her capture by the demon king Ravana.

Affliction

 

I often wonder if

I’ll ever find the gene

that makes the wrinkles in my brain

different from yours.

 

You go on ahead

speaking – wide-eyed and spirited –

I am compelled to tend

to a matter of utmost-unimportance.

 

Devi Sita, she who resides

in my mind alone,

I will hunt down this Golden Deer

for which you yearn.

 

Prancing demon:

the root of the earthquakes

within my chest, the clacking

of hooves so loud and unyielding!

 

Coy devil:

you who washes my eyelids

and renders my world

an impressionist painting!

 

Thief of joy, breath,

and time –

I return to Devi Sita

empty-handed.

 

And when I, finally,

unfolded my ears,

the sweetness of your voice

no longer flowed from your tongue.

 

No, it merely hung

onto the air, still

and silent.