In Dreams Of Rain Or By Lightning’s Light I Poem by umashankar manthravadi

In dreams of rain or by lightning’s light I
lying on sea sand watch the cantankerous
flood bite into sand piled in a dozen
drifting years. Mud drips down leaves. Lying on
the sand alone I can hear the grains squeak

as your phantom weight shifts. There’s a war on
do you hear the anonymous running
feet on the sand? Now ourselves alone touch
the last sense lost we are still at war. Teeth
bared for others bared for ourselves as well.

by lightning’s light warm mud small living lakes
eyes waking eyes waking skin are dreamed. We
do not touch anything. The long drought dries all
drives goat to slaughter. Manic mechanical
I break your phantom skin. War continues

Oct 17,1973