The Poet’s Ruse

A bird who flew away would come back home someday. A flight of thought on brain drain, H-1B visa denials, and more.

I board a flight of

thought

to the land of opportunity

I take my seat,

fasten my seat belt,

put my mind on

airplane mode

the plane takes off

up in the air

outside my window

of opportunity,

the clouds clear; I see

life is a runway

not to run away

there comes a turbulence,

inside, with no announcement

I close my eyes

It was a rough landing

the plane lay

grounded, my pride too

I wake up, smile,

unbuckle my fear,

make an exit to buy a

one way ticket

I take the next flight home

without any

Baggage

Written by: Rupesh Mandal

You think before you speak. You think before you act. But are they the same?

We think

We feel

We say

We do

Seldom are they

Aligned

We think something

We feel something else

We say wise

We do otherwise

Sometimes we hide

The truth

Sometimes we

Tell a lie

Sometimes we tell half a truth

To tell a lie

Sometimes we lie

To hide another lie

Sometimes we help to help

Sometimes we help to harm

Sometimes we harm to help

Sometimes we harm to harm

We think

We feel

We say

We do

Often maligned

Written by: Rupesh Mandal

What you do on TikTok is entirely up to you. There could, however, be consequences.

Neither by hook or by crook; I went by the book. She didn’t get it.

it's no accident

how we meet in the

store,

the paradox of choice

do i find you, all the

time? or you make the

first move, not

judging

by my cover

holding me in silence, for

hours

you seize the

moment

time, however, runs out

drunk on my

words you take me

home

sometimes i wish

i were the book you are

reading

you so want me to

skip to the end,

and don’t want it to end

either

let there be space

between you and

me, that li'l room

to read

no more no less, unless

you fall asleep

and i slip

through your

fingers

locked in an embrace, i

count your

beats, without your

knowing

sometimes i wish

i were the book you are

reading

without having

to say

you understand

my words, more than

words and

the lack thereof

Written by: Rupesh Mandal

A good relationship is like sitting by a campfire. Neither too close, nor too far away.

Underneath the salt

And pepper

Is a heart of

Coal

Burning inside

Winter is

Coming

Sit by the campfire

On a cold starry night

Feel my love

And light

On your face, hands

And hair

Let the fire cracklings fill

Your silence

Rise

Like a phoenix from my

Ashes at dawn

Written by: Rupesh Mandal