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.

Freedom

photo of the coastline of Australia, as seen from the window seat of a plane with the wing visible

The world’s my oyster;
flying to every corner—
a life with borders.

Gateway

Photo of the sunset and the silhouette of a tree, as seen through a set of Venetian blinds.

Old Venetian blinds,
gateway to the great outdoors
as limbs start to fail.

Shade

Photo of a hiking trail during the early afternoon, through a canopy of oak trees.

Stands the mighty oak
under the scorching sunshine
sprinkling shade on me.

Dream

Photo of a cloudy sky and a green landscape as seen from the window of an airplane.

Bright blue horizon—
buckled into a tin can,
refugees dream big.