Imagine living in two countries
at the same time

body in one, spirit in the other.

Home was safe until
it began to smell of gunpowder
oozing cries of children
powdered scarlet gore
stillborn sun
dead dawn

and yet in spirit you live there
thinking of family time together
the ivory stars sparkling from laughter
honeyed memories
before the catastrophe began.

How you never thought
you would experience migration

how you thought your dreams
would unfurl to widen wings

and how you hopelessly hope
that you would some day
return to your roots
and grow pretty purple flowers
and jasmine in your garden again.

– Brindha Vinodh