Warring Words

A hot scalding summer noon
The breeze burnt our cheeks
Scrubbing as though with smoked charcoal
As the loo gained speed
Inside a dashing car
We fought over a ten rupee note
Our ardour matched the heat outside
As the cacophony of raised voices
Reached the crescendo
We conveniently forgot
The frivolous excuse
Which had robbed us of our rationality
In the grip of an insane rage
We fought a daggerless dual

Of venomous words
Tearing each other apart
Bit by bit, layer by layer

When the evening burnt the skies to ashes

We chose a pregnant silence to speak for us
Seething in grave disdain, familiar in our contempt
We turned a little away from each other
And bit our lips disgruntled

Perhaps tomorrow or the day after
We'll look at each other sheepishly
And smile with quivering lips contritely even
But a deep gash has grazed the hearts
Which ripens each moment oozing blood
As red as the cherries iced on her B'day cake
Making me toss and turn on the bed

Hour after hour as the night owl derides

My smothered rants

She sleeps in another room fitfully
A slice of moon sneaking across her face
Where the tell-tale marks of dried tears
Leave a blazing trail on her age-worn cheeks