Vihang A. Naik collections of poems includes City Times and Other Poems (1993), Making A Poem (2004) and Poetry Manifesto ( New & Selected Poems) (2010). His Gujarati collection of poems titled Jeevangeet (Gujarati poems) (2001) is dedicated to the cause of victims of Gujarat Earthquake 26th January, 2001. He also translates poetry written in Gujarati language into English including his own Gujarati Language poems into English. His poems have appeared in some of the most noted literary journals and anthologies. His poetry has been translated into Japanese, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese languages. He lives and works in Gujarat, India. His literary info can be found at https://vihang.org
Waiting
The shadow stretches
on the veranda, looms large at your door.
The dusk. You look upon the voidperhaps waiting
behind the bars
of your window.You deny being
yourself. Time shuffles seasons
over the lanes of stone.The Diwali wicks fade
with the rangoli that is made
of peacock’s feathered tail.
It is evening
in your gaze. The birds beat
their wings in the thinsky of your eyes.
Shadows envelop the door.
The echo of a knock hitting against walls.
Indian Summer
The map of India burns
with flames of passion
when fire is set
against mid-day. You search
the city, lost
in a mirage. The sun fumes.
There is only heat and dust.The song of a Koel coos
from engines and smoke pipes.
Find yourself in the arms
of summer; a roasting
season
where the smell lingers
of flesh and blood
burning alive.Buffaloes rest
on muddy waters, and stray dogs
on leakage from gutters.
Summer shadows move
and float upon baked soil.The wings of a fan persist,
unexhausted. Look out!
Through the iron grills
on the tongue of a dragon
is the boiling sun,
while, locked up, you dream
of rain and thunder.
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