To the Wedding

 

by Gautam Verma

 

 

 

 

3 words gives The Master of Ceremonies

 

tenderness gives & generosity

fidelity gives

 

they knock against the heart’s fist

 

words like empty bread-baskets

 

from the parapet the soprano sings

 

we would feel a little something

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

may the flower drink itself

into the fruit & may the fruit

with the sweetness of flower

ripen & heavy with juice fall

far from the branch that held it

aloft

 

 

 

*

 

the wedding couple weary walk

from table to table

 

Hip Hip Hurrah! Hip Hip Hurrah!

 

the guests are all dead; they go through

the motions

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

soft September sunlight, the tremulous leaves

we draw the curtains & silhouette the trees

 

it’s all make believe

 

draw the curtains and enjoy the feast!

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

to the girl with the straw-blonde hair

& strong jaw what would you offer (if you could)

 

more future?

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

look at me – his wife says – to him –

her husband – oh, that dead person

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

write no more poems

as cryptograms

 

write no more poems

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

if there were ever only this moment

 

(if you knew it to be so (in your knees)

you would tremble with attention)

 

would you share it with someone?

 

then pull-back the screen of your eyes

 

& unclench your heart

 

& listen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gautam Verma was born and grew up in Bombay, India, and now lives in Piacenza, Italy, where he teaches English.  His first full-length manuscript, The Opacity of Frosted Glass, is out from Moria Books.  He has previously published five e-chaps: Tombs, In Ladakh, Days Dreams and The Lines from Shearsman, and Soundings from BlazeVox.