APRIL
-Akanksha
Pandey (India)
Polaris
Appeared in April,
Offering a quiet fixedness
To a barren land
where
no one stayed.
And suddenly the world felt warmer,
Connecting to life like Em dashes.
grass grew softer.
The trees leaned heavy with cherry blossoms.
Face was struck with cool, gentle wind.
Waves crashed lovingly at the shores.
Birds chirping melodies of peace into the morning air.
The land filled with mustard flowers now.
April, in its full swing,
Is a rhythm of joy and belonging
After being abandoned for so long.
Reminding the land of its own essence,
Making it feel worthy of flowers.
Polaris shown above the land that April held.
“April
is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire…” said Eliot,
But
forcing life to return for all the good reasons,
Awakening an empty world full of pain and darkness so that it can be healed.
To me, April is the gentlest rebellion
In favour of things that have been cruelly subdued.
April is the kindest and most beautiful,
Celebrating healing after hardship,
As if Demeter and Persephone (Greek Goddess of Spring and Rebirth)
Have looked down upon the earth and whispered birthday wishes,
Stitching lush green and gold mustard blossoms,
and the fragrance of a new beginning for the barren land
Where no one stayed.
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