The Alphabet Poem by Binayakumar Mohanty

Had I not forgotten
the phonemes
of the alphabet long before,
I would swim across
the fathomless river
full of risk and obstacles
Life is never easy without.

For the orphan eyes
a handkerchief
too stained with blood
a never healing wound within
a perennial stream of tear
a pulsating heart
above the meniscus
unable to jump over.

Don't you remember dear
with a ghastly roar of fear
when we ran about awkward
stood the tall plum tree
in front.

should I go with you
this time!

You mean to say
the shriek heard
from the closed room
was not ours?

Are we not standing
you say where we are?

Haven't you seen
the cutie pie
playing still
with the broken toy?

Can I remember the phonemes
again?
Let the girl to
come out with the cage
May be one or two
herons escaped from
the fiery face of despair
and devastation
may fall into the trap.

Who cares for the alphabet!