after i escaped hell

after i escaped hell

my fingers didn’t feel soft enough,

my voice didn’t feel sweet enough

i had camphor all over my feet,

but my soul felt free;

from the chains, you imprisoned me in.

i didn’t realize when holding your hands,

chained my soul.

when loving you

turned into the poison i kept treasuring

in the jewel of my heart.

it poisoned my heart

till

my own heartbeat was unsettling;

and even on my deathbed,

i wanted you to whole my hand

and

palliate my heart.

for love is stronger than death,

and i want to lay under the lush green grass and soft brown earth,

knowing

the melody of my heartbeat

-Avni Jain