The waking moments of the night
Are endless.
The hour sucks my life
Completely into it.
I just lie in bed -
Feeding the world,
My severed head.
O! Those waking moments of the night.

Between the tangle of the night,
And the waking moments,
I wait and wait
Till the light comes on with dawn
Bursting with crows.
Self-weary, I close my eyes,
Enduring the sounds of the birds.
While the birds: Caw! Caw.

Mumbai
7th July 2013

Geeta Chhabra