Blue Eyes

These were a few lines Zohra wrote for me - lines which I have treasured all these years.


Little did they care
when the wind blew her wild hair
   hither and beyond
with her blue eyes
into bare and barren arms
   'barsati' rooms
   with terraces you could grow gardens in
   or weep.

Her blue eyes showed fears
Her blue eyes held tears
   that could have filled those
   terraced spaces.

And they tore at her then
   into her then
   and left her -
          standing 'there'

THEN
   such a wispy thing
   with feeling
   and blue eyes that showed
all that happened - shouldn't have
   yet
she does not know she is more
   frail, more innocent
   then the poetry she sometimes
   cares to write.

I wonder
   if they know
   her beauty answers but today
   for tomorrow who will fill
      the deep vacancy
          yet
she understands the winds
that blow my thoughts
   her way
     like dust.

Only my feelings remain
   so perfect for her
   wispy 'thing'
   with blue eyes
   and feeling
   who says
   "i am content."