CROSSING NAMES

Unrepenting you start 
from a sore point 
to ask an explanation 
from an eclipse of the sun. 

unreviving, 
a corpse, the moon carries the burden 
of light, on its bloodied shoulder 
for burial in dew. 

Half the century we were 
reciting the prayers to open 
a blocked artery of a dying god 
who would not share our bandages. 

The bride steps out 
from dark, 
unveiled, and undoes the hairs. 
There was fire in her eyes 
and ice on her lips.

Satish Verma