Defiant

Photo of the silhouette of a leafless tree at sunset.

Face-off with the sun
in the middle of nowhere,
one tree stands its ground.

Ouch

Close up photo of chopped onions, curry leaves, tomatoes, garlic, and green chillies on a wooden cutting board.

Outlining mine eyes,
wiping away streaming tears:
chilli-chopped fingers.

Birthday

close up photo of a birthday candle and the box it came in

Bright-eyed and sparkling,
candle, wastes its life away;
defines another.

Moon

Photo of a half-moon, as seen from the window of a second floor building, with other buildings and facades visible.

Tidal commander
smiles at me from miles away;
half-moon spectacle.

Dry

Photo of the Cauveri river in Trichy with spots of water. As seen through the window of a bus.

Lifeblood running out—
the river as dry as bone;
hypoxic city.