By Adrika Chatterjee
First love -
Sweet, foolish, and desperate.
Cotton candy on a summer afternoon.
Vanilla breath and butterscotch anticipation.
Longing -
Dendritic, heady, and sleepless.
Jasmine on a missing midnight.
Salty seawater that you dare not swim in.
Trust -
Gentle, sturdy, and assuring.
Almond shampoo and cozy blankets.
Bedroom pillow for headrest.
Guilt -
Smoky, volatile, and metallic.
Cold sweat, dressed in clean clothes.
Smouldering paper in a campfire.
Jealousy -
Acidic, bitter, and restless.
Citrus fruits left on the table to rot.
Nail polish remover and lipstick on teeth.
Peace -
Fresh, cool, and sacred.
Watermelon mocktails were slurped cross-legged.
Temple air threaded with incense.
Heartbreak -
Raw, echoing, and wilted.
Tear-soaked handkerchiefs heavy with memory.
Rain-rust on empty park benches.
Regret -
Bittersweet, suffocating, and elusive.
Scorching sunlight you have to bear with.
Wishes pressed under an unspoken tongue.
Courage -
Brewing, wild, and persistent.
Hot steams of black coffee.
Thunderstorms on barren rooftops.
Nostalgia -
Familiar, bittersweet, and tender.
Wet playgrounds mirroring a bygone childhood.
Pages of old books and worn leather jackets.
Grief -
Damp, lingering, and earthy.
Burnt candle wax in a closed room.
Ashtray emptied in the surrendering sky.
Healing -
Clean, rejuvenating, and embracing.
Aloe vera and eucalyptus oil on scarred skin.
Spilled sandalwood dissolving into the forest floor.