Friday, July 18, 2025

After Vivaldi by Kushal Poddar

 

Image| Josue Velaquez 

After Vivaldi

The last note, born orphan, falls 

from the violin and loses its way

in the thick red carpet. It knows

the value of mutism soon. 


'The Four Seasons' has ended.

The violinist, still in trance, breathes hard

and stares at us, but we're nothing 

more than a broad stroke speckled 

with shades and values of the dark.


Almost near dawn she finds herself alone

in her pittance of a balcony veiled in smog.

Sky, black, claps. Too late, there won't be 

time for an encore. Sky claps. Rain follows. 

She bows, and then remembers that note 

left in the dim auditorium. It doesn't know 

what to do in front of the emptiness.


© Kushal Poddar



Kushal Poddar

Kushal Poddar has authored ten books, the latest being A White Can For The Blind Lane, and his works have been translated into twelve languages. He is a co-editor for Outlook Magazine and the editor of Words Surfacing. He does illustrations and sketches for various magazines.






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