When you ask me to remember our olden days
I often visit an afternoon
You returned from work
And a red chilli burst open
The fridge door was slammed
The TV was turned on loudly
Children's bags were rummaged for leftover tiffin
I smelled the spicy air
My mouth burned
My body shrank like
A piece of fish in the hot gravy.
I knew I was a super hot pepper
But frozen and pale
staying in the cold for a long time;
in coldness of care
A mutual loss consumed us
From the core.
11 August 2022.
Published by Umme Salma
A teacher, a researcher, a learner, a poet in the search for the true self.
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