Love is charming
It makes you open your heart
I have loved fully, your package deal
of quirks, interests and obsessions
I have wondered sometimes, specially that day
when you told me to pray – for my period pain
really?
When the astrologer said we matched many parts of predictions
except I thought, relationship is not a match game?
Our first fight on our first date was for ice cream
you chose ubiquitous vanilla, it eliminated any chance of sharing a spoon
My analysis is always right and on the money, said dad
he arranged us, I wished the arrangement had quotient!
and then,
I learned, from and with you, beside you
You were patient when I was slow, or impatient
I nearly drowned, into depths that loss brings
You deserved more, but resuscitated me with courage
You kneaded into our marriage, things I owe my life to
Long term, invisible, tender hope, and allowance for smiles
You hummed tunes, like snowflakes and raindrops
The baritone found places to settle, in my nooks and corners
Redeeming faith came through, when fingers trace paths on palms
filling in scars, seeding new furrows, to let laughter sprout
‘We’ worked, intersecting life with meditation
gathering insignificant dust of daily grind, in jars and caskets
Time often lay strewn like autumnal leaves, crushed
you always found spring and called it home, a privilege
You carved out voices from films, stories, to create secret tunnels
used to crawl into each other’s hearts, curling fetal like till ready again
You unobtrusively modeled ‘us’ goals, keeping your end of the bargain
by letting in, staying vulnerable, being curious without conditions
A celebration of and for you, is like making a list
of memories, of being, of giving, of honesty, of curiosity
Of unabashed singing
Of rooted gratitude
Of endearing coffee
Of riveting fatherhood
Of reliable journeys
Of staying in love
Of finding me
in my me
Love is charming
It makes a home within the pit of you
Kashiana 