That Day Poem by Anjaly Malani

Going back a million and two footsteps
I’ll take you to that moment
The time we spent our days on swings
And dreamt of flapping our wings

A certain day will always live in me
We sat side by side on our spot
Both wearing the same favourite dresses of ours
Rhythmic plucks of the green fresh grass

The birds kept our little ears busy
We were quiet but definitely happy
The breeze would add some background crackles
As dry leaves and brittle stems show off their dances

There was a butterfly I had seen before
It sat with its friend having a nice long talk
They both had wings of the same pretty colours
Floated together over bright red flowers

I smell the scent of the day as I breathe
The old pond housing weeds and leaves
That tiny toad, I remember I didn’t quite admire
I still don’t, not going to, I won’t be a liar

Fenced off from the beeps, shouts and screeches
Old men resting, playing chess, biting on cigars
Many girls, more boys, kids running and on swings
Sweat, pushes, twists, wounds, also some giggles and screams

Never cared about what went on around us
I smiled and popped my feet out of my shoes
You looked at me with that same lovely smile
We held hands and danced together for a while