STAGES OF UNDRESS
by Amlanjyoti Goswami
You shed thoughts
One by one
On the wooden floor.
​
Let go,
Of sight.
​
If ears arch, listen.
​
Roses, yes,
But mint too is sharp,
​
Lightning touches your spine
And finally makes you walk straight.
THE LOVERS / ALL THE WHITE HORSES
by Amlanjyoti Goswami
Musty tonight. The sea,
White upon white,
Gathers around your shirtsleeves.
The surf frolics, your feet eager to follow
A mermaid to water
​
But good earth stays quiet
She has seen these tricks before
​
Sea comes, again, and again,
Everyday hums,
A bird
Ploughing wet cloud
Leaving sea behind.
​
While you linger, for what you don't know.
Give me my heart back, you almost ask.
ABOUT AMLANJYOTI
Amlanjyoti Goswami’s collection of poems, River Wedding, will be published by Poetrywala in March this year. His poems have been published in India, Nepal, Hong Kong, the UK, USA, South Africa, Kenya and Germany, including the anthologies, ‘40 under 40: An Anthology of Post Globalisation Poetry (Poetrywala) and A Change of Climate (Manchester Metropolitan University, Environmental Justice Foundation and the University of Edinburgh). His poems have also appeared on street walls of Christchurch, exhibitions in Johannesburg and buses in Philadelphia. He grew up in Guwahati, Assam and lives in Delhi.
Photo Credit: Tara Sanyal Goswami