Stay Awhile. Poem by anasuya balla

stay awhile
there is much to say
even if it is
only in silent words
awkward glances and knuckle touching.

i will look when you
are talking:
nod and smile
like clockwork,
laugh with my head thrown
back, even.

there are places we
have travelled
each in our own
mind's twisting spaces
and sharing is perhaps hard.

but if you sit while
and share this silence
i will feel lighter
us fat people can use that.
stay.