By Bhuwan Thapaliya
PROMPT — Despite ...
He comes home
late in the evening
only to slump in front
of the television,
often with
an alcoholic drink.
Her response
was always the same:
turn the television off,
curse him aloud,
then head to the bedroom
and slam the door behind.
Next morning they wake up
and look at each other
in disbelief
with shaggy thoughts
and go out to the lawn
through the large glass door
of the living room,
into the brilliance
of the mid-morning sunshine,
with a cup of black coffee
in their hands
and sit down
in the wobbly chair.
With the zephyr
coming in,
and birds calling,
they feel no hurry
to get back to
anything at all,
and watch
their future dance
in sheer abandon,
its locks
falling in disarray
on fates broad shoulder
as wild orchids
that hang out of trees.
Bhuwan Thapaliya was born in Kathmandu, Nepal and is the author of four poetry collections. His poems and articles have been widely published in journals and periodicals such as Kritya, Foundling Review, FOLLY, The Journal of Expressive Writing, Trouvaille Review, Pendemics Literary Journal, Pandemic Magazine, The Poet, Litehouse, Valient Scribe, Strong Verse, Jerry Jazz Musician, Poetry and Covid: A project funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council, University of Plymouth, and Nottingham Trent University, Countercurrents.org, Ponder Savant, Mindful of Poetry – Page for Africa, asianamericanpoetry.com, Poetseers, International Times, Taj Mahal Review, Poetry Life and Times, VOICES ( Education Project), Longfellow Literary Project, Poets Against the War, Mahmag.org ( Magazine of arts and humanities), InnerVisions by Jay, The Sound of Poetry Review, The Kashmir Pulse, Publiknama, Ibex Press Year's Best Magazine, rave utopia, The Camel Saloon, STREET VOICE #5, and Merak Magazine among many others.