KNOT Magazine
Fall Issue 2022
Kushal Poddar
Of War And Summer
The dysfunctional wake up birds
caw at twelve, one, four, five. Again.
Again. Early we board our windows
against the summer. Planked panes, sirens
befouling time, o the oldest one
here amongst us, do you recall
the war you survived? Our bodies
seek the solace of trench, cold of those killed.
Sleeping with eyes opened. Working
with eyes closed. There buzzes a gnat.
Tired bodies. Passing on hush.
Once, one smothered a word for far
too long, found it dead. The birds call
again. What time is it? Which place?
who am I? The oldest one?
The youngest one in this old age home?
Rocking To The Cold
I crave to have you
on my lap, say
Let's rock, and rock
the chair until,
we tilt and fall.
I imagine
our laughter.
Perhaps you will
not laugh, yell, Only
you can do such
a reckless deed.
Perhaps you will
think it a ploy
to restrain you
before your
assignment in
another city.
I still want to have
you on my lap
and rock a chair
filled with cold.
Born in a warm corner of India Kushal Poddar (1977- ) is widely published in several
countries, prestigious anthologies included Men In The Company of Women, Penn
International MK etc. and featured in various radio programs in Canada and the USA. He has collaborated with photographers for an exhibition in Venice and with performers for several audio publications.
He is presently living in Calcutta, writing poetry, fiction, and sketching for an art-poem book. He authored, The Circus Came To My Island (Spare Change Press, Ohio) and A Place For Your Ghost Animals (Ripple Effect Publications, Colorado Springs). His forthcoming book is Herding My Thoughts To The Slaughterhouse.