Wednesday, July 11, 2012

I Double Dare You

by Pavi Mehta

the edges of things are always deceptive.

because we are taught to believe

in endings and beginnings.

but the truth is:

There Are No Borders.

and all boundaries are lines

drawn in the imagination

(like the equator)

people like to put things

in their places.

(we believe in belonging

somewhere)

this is the problem with

poetry-

(it does not understand

belonging)

and it will not be put in place.

with crayons on paper maybe

but who can live life strictly

inside-the-lines?

the color of countries that

cannot be contained

in cliches where-

the red of your heart spills

into the red of the rose spills

into the red of the sunset spills

into mehendi on the hands of a bride.

and who can explain these things?

but what i want to know is simple:

who settled the sky on top of the mountain

and who drew the restless margins of the sea?

everything flows into everything

else.

like a picture drawn without once

lifting pencil from paper;

this world.

now tell me the story of your life

(whoever you are) go on

i Double Dare you!

tell me the story of your life

without once touching

mine.