Kensington

Kensington

written by: Naleenee Mohan

 

Stepping on piles of needles
Friends warned me it’s a town of evils.
I bumped into him
he calmly murmured,

“watch your step, don’t fall.”

“Thanks bro.”

Me stunned, he continued.

“Finally! Spring, then some summer, eh.”

Unable to maintain a standing pose;
legs trembling,
torn shoes, the creeping wounded toes.
He grinned but did he feel– the smile?
How did the bruised face hold it?
He lost all hopes, his dull eyes told me.

“Wanna try? It will take you somewhere…”

Humped back; was it the load or
a wrong turn of life?
Me desperate to help
Probably it may pause a few moments
Before he injects himself again
Inexorable ruin.

“Wow some!
Inner-being? Tell me where?
Don’t be silent dude.
Are you with me?
Hey where has it taken you?
Did someone hurt you?
Have you shown the wounds to the doc?
When was the last you ate something?
You need water?
Where do you sleep?
Do you have a family?”

The monologue.
He’s already boarded the flight
that will crash in hell.
He mumbled,

“Mental trance …meditation.”

Continuing to meditate…
The Prince of Darkness.