Three Poems by Atrayee Kashyap

Atrayee Kashyap

1. IN THE NIGHT

Draping a form-fitting emerald satin

Clicking of her black heels echoing 

Dangling the pink hobo bag

nothing but her money and mascara

Her shoulders slouched, she sighed

‘I’m right as rain,’ she lied.

Her eyes trailed from the worn pavement

to the neon orange of Astro’s 

Instinctively, she stepped in

Starry night evolved into a trance

Sifting through sweaty figures

Her frame swaying, disheveled hair

Poising a cig and whisky, she exhaled

Revering a ship of freedom, she sailed. ++

***

2. JIMMY’S 

The car freewheeled over

the cobbled slope like a skier

and halted at what seemed a boulevard

Stores and eateries sprawled across the Mall Street

Bustling bodies topping off their deeds.

The street ahead parted in two

Each jammed with engrossed vendors

and tourist-packed antique shops

The breeze carried a radiant wave

Clangs of the giant prayer wheels,

drifting in a rhythmic flow

Backdrop being the gleamy peak with a 

hint of snow.

We strolled through the market

Each of us with a bag of assorted items

Jaded, yet we gazed skyward.

In contrast to the clay-greyed dusk

The golden lights of Jimmy’s were warm

and homey.

Smitten by the lingering aroma

we were swept down the stairs and 

into the mellow music,

Devouring delicacies and swaying gleefully 

with every lyric. ++

***

3. THE BENCH UNDER SAKURA

Cherry Blossoms sway in Ballet

Freely floating, blissfully breathtaking

The pink subliming into peace

It breathes in, it breathes out.

Bald heads adorning red and saffron

Calm composure, serving shoulder

Chiming the bells, prayer wheels in hand.

The melody ornamenting the aura

It breathes in, it breathes out.

The dragons in the sacred walls

Blazing strength in the air

Fading fears, tranquil tears

The gleamy snow in the peaks

Pouring the shine upon the valley.

A pink petal passed my eye

Embracing my palm delicately

Feather-light freedom, blooming blossom

A piece of Monet’s artwork

I breathe in, I breathe out. ++

Bio: Atrayee Kashyap is a student of medical science with a keen interest in arts and literature. She loves a bit fantasy and thrilling writings. In her passionate poems she splashes those flavours elegantly. She has started her journey as a poet very modestly though she has already published her debut book “Tales of Blue Hills” with 25 amazing stories of some prominent hill tribes of Northeast India that can be found in Amazon and Flipkart.   

 

---

Setu, May 2024