NO ROSE RED IN KASHMIR: ATHER ZIA Originally from Kashmir, Ather Zia is currently a graduate candidate in anthropology at UC Irvine and edits an online journal on Kashmiri literature and diasporic writing. She has published her first collection of poems "The Frame" and her work has appeared in varied magazines. She loves experimenting with different forms of poetry. Her work of creative fiction is forthcoming. Next Poem:....................................................................................................................................... Back to Poetry Index

 
the first rays of the sun

suffuse the rubble

behind my grandfather’s

garden

where roses grew

when we last promised to meet,

 

 

quick shadows

nimble footed

fall over

the crusty runnels

scribbling a

hasty darkness

taking all the color away

 

 

I like to think I am still there,

in the alleyway behind

as

where it all happens

mulling, to read or not,

lines which lose meaning

in the dark,

earlier their crimson

reminded me

there is no rose red in Kashmir

some noise (or quiet) later

come - read the lines

illegible, over me

and you will know

the only rose red in Gaza

oozes from your heart to mine…

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