Poem: The Invisible Masks by Ali Imran

Like my desire for our summer yet to be ...Read More

The invisible masks

Unpeopled streets for days,

weeks and months

toss my mind

into a time warp –

a winter of earth’s discontent

with frozen memories

snowballing, and pounding me

into a strange oblivion.

In the park outside my window

birds touch down, chirp in the trees,

after sundown a bevy of shy deers

appears ambling around,

perhaps, they want to check out

if it is the same bustling place.

Even the silvery moon wonders: 

What happened to these restless souls?

Still, flowers bloom,

trees fresh green

but kids no more frolic around,

and lovebirds stay hungry

in their desire to clasp and croon

as if they live and meet digitally only.

Is it the forced platonic love of our times?

Outside my window,

the only being I see

seems to be my masked neighbor

walking his puppy on the sidewalks.

In my room, I try to scour through

what they said –

the old men of ageless Rome

Averroes of the Andalusian spring,

Sweet Swan of Avon,

the straight-shooting Bulleh,

mystery-seeking Rumi and Iqbal,

and Twain with his lively spirit.

Will we fare better this time

when we ride out the viral worries?

Kids rush through the rooms

the blood runs through my veins

my love’s arms,

my parents’ healing words

vibes and faces of friends

the dream of a shining city on the hill –

so much to look beyond

the stinging infection.

But, we, who have refused to

meet ourselves, will we finally

embrace the moment of truth?

Will we bare our souls

or stick with the invisible masks?

After that breathless midsummer act

many of us gasped together for air

but the promise of a rainbow life –

with its colors distinct yet knit together –

still awaits the light of day

like my desire for our summer yet to be,

a maskless season yet to be,

and the best of us yet to be.

The poem was originally published in the WordCity Literary Journal.

Categories
Arts & LiteratureArts and LifePoetry

Ali Imran is a writer, poet, and former Managing Editor Views and News magazine
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