Shearsman 59: Avik Chanda: "Torch Lamp Drawings"

Shearsman 59

Avik Chanda

Torch Lamp Drawings

I

A neat triangle at first, equilateral,
as in the Vastusutra, then another,
inverted and superimposed on it,
and at the bottom, craggy letters
in Bengali: fire, water, life –
the desperate refuse of hope.

II

Thin strokes strung in a mesh
around the wishing tree: Puri.
Here, for a hundred or two,
we guarantee riches and sons
and a laptop job. Tie your string,
My good sir, like the others.

III

Lively at the Nacht der Museen:
a clot of mellow light at the top
left-hand corner, with lines
sliding down in beered perspective,
tracing a lithograph tracing Böll:
der Zug war pünktlich.

IV

Dermis over veins, blood, flesh
and metacarpals. Her hand.
And between the sunburnt here
and there of skin, this most
delicate of all strokes, marking
the band where she wore her ring.

Avik Chanda is a management consultant by profession, and has been writing poetry for some time. Recent publications include work in Other Poetry, Richmond Review, Brittle Star, Comrades, Eclectica, Black Bear Review, Morpo, Three Candles, Spork, Poetry Depth Quarterly, Rearview Quarterly, Adirondack Review, Reflections, Slant, Ascent, Kimera.