Unspoken Poem by NAYYAR SHABBIR AHMAD

Our thoughtful friends
Invited me to dinner
On New Year’s Eve
In order to....
cheer me up
I guess

Very dear of them
Nevertheless

And, despite the fact
That I always used to say
I don’t party on just the one day
each and every day is a celebration
when you’re with me
I went to their party
.....against my better judgement

Everyone made merry
Except for me -
Oh, don’t worry
I smiled
And smiled
A very wide, wide smile
No one knew just how blue I was
Your presence was felt
Your absence too
By everyone in the room
Although your name was conspiciously unspoken

Perhaps it’s better that way
Munch a peanut
Talk about the weather
Anything -
Have a drink
Oblivion

Our relationship was good
while it lasted
Very good

But, all too soon
it had run it’s course
And,
unfortunately for us
We had to part

I looked up at the fireworks
in the night sky with polite interest
and watched the sparks fly
I even mingled with the gathering
Unthinking
Later, I went home
Alone


What’s a New Year’s eve, anyway?
Only a new day without you
No more birthday celebrations
No more wedding anniversaries
One New Year’s eve blends into another
Without one feeling or caring

So does the air
The vast sky
The empty spaces
The empty places