Hush, dear child

Hush dear child, now please don’t speak

All these tales you make up, they’re worrying me

Your daddy is tired, your mamma had a long day

Please don’t frighten us with your scary tales

Yes we love you, of course we care

If he scares you, just stop going there

Hush, dear child, quiet for a while

Things will be better tomorrow, sleep, good night…

Hush dear child, what are these things you say

You’re at the school, not a place to play

Don’t ask those questions, what have you learnt at home

Good kids don’t talk like that, hush, no

These are dirty things you tell, go rinse your mouth

And don’t repeat them to your friends as you move about

Hush dear child, it’ll be fine when you grow

For now stay quiet, you don’t want the others to know…

Hush dear child, now please don’t cry

Your grandpa cares, but he doesn’t understand why

Why this is happening to you,

What is he supposed to do,

Stay close to home, next to ma and pa

Grandpa will make sure that uncle goes really far

Hush dear child, I promise to try

All will be well, just give me some time…

Speak dear child, oh please tell me

Who hurt you so bad? Why do you bleed?

Did you tell your parents, your teachers, some adult?

There must be someone you can trust in the world

Tell me what happened, why don’t you speak

You must be in pain, all those tears on your cheek

Say dear child, who did this to you

When did this happen, what did he do?

Hush, he said, don’t you shout or scream

We’ll play a secret game, just for you and me

You’re so special, much more than the other kids

I love you so much, that’s why I’m doing this

It’s nothing wrong, I’ll get you chocolates and sweets

It’ll hurt a little but please bear it for me

Hush, he said, don’t say a word

Hush, my story just wasn’t heard.

Falling in love with someone who is not thinking of you

Develop a new hate for technology, a pleasurable bitterness

because you want to but don’t want to know when he last came online

if he’s seen your messages, and how long ago

You wish there was no way of knowing, maybe it would make this easier;

Sit with your friends and pretend to care, but let your eye-balls roll

every second towards the door, keep checking if it’s him;

wander into conversations that have his name, or his best friend’s name,

or his dog’s name, anything that would give a clue

about whether he’s been thinking of you;

listen intently, check if he is fine, is he calm? relaxed?

Or does he have the look of a butcher who just killed for the first time?

Take in the bitter taste of thoughts that tell you,

No, he’s not thinking of you at all; question his heartlessness

How he continues to walk straight, doesn’t even smile too much for you

to think that maybe he’s hiding the hurt; give yourself reasons,

Fill his silence with excuses, his quiet with your thoughts,

His lies with your lies; and before going to sleep each night

Fill in the void of his presence, with the paintings of what could have happened

Weaving tales of what could have been

Had he texted you at his ‘last seen’.

It was rose day yesterday and I couldn't stop thinking

Whether I’m becoming too disagreeable a person to be with

It would never make me happy to have fresh roses delivered at my doorstep

At best, I’d appreciate the attempt at expressing one’s love

At worst, I would cry for the roses who had to die

So that this foolish man could express his feelings

To a girl he claims to love

But doesn't know at all. 

Pick up a nameless insect

The one right there, that flies by

Minding its own business

And hold it in your hands,

Like a pearl in a shell

But don’t give it a name yet,

Now in your left hand hold its body

Observe first its fight to escape

Count the number of legs

The flutter of the wings

And think to yourself

How ugly this thing is

Then slowly with your right hand

Pluck its first wing

And blow it in the air

Pretend like you didn’t hear

The silent scream

Feel big, and huge, and dangerous

And tell this insect that this is a warning

To its siblings and friends

To never come close to you again,

Observe again its attempt to escape,

When it begins to settle a little

Pluck its second wing

And this time place it right next to the body

To remind it that there is

No escaping now

Laugh and let it loose on the ground

Watch it crawl across the floor

And keep staring at it

As it escapes foot-steps

Heading towards some place

And see if it is lucky enough

To make it to the other side

Without getting trampled

By our busy life.

Then go back to your room

And pick up the newspaper

Talk to your mom about

The man who was set aflame,

The girl who was raped,

The kid who was gunned

The woman who was beheaded

And discuss how

We’re losing our humanity

Every day.

Late night tips on how I should change myself

You’re defensive

No, I’m not

And contradicting

What, no!

And unsure

Maybe

You cry too easy

These are not tears

You hurt too fast

You don’t see my scars

Try, it’s easy

But it took me years..

No buts

..to get comfortable with myself

Listen more

But I’m tired

Speak better

Do you promise to understand?

I fought a battle last summer

Try this trick, it worked

That’s great, but what if I’m in a

Different war?

You should be like me

But then who will be like me?