To love someone
With your perfect imperfections
Is a timeless devotion
Once I love a goddess
Who captured my mind
Stole my heart
Sanctified me
Like a mother’s lullaby
Twice her bright smile
Delivered me from my miseries
Thrice her loud giggles
Silenced my fears

Now that she’s gone
I miss her garlic-smelling breath
And the brief kiss
She would plant on my brow
Every morning before I went out
She would say
Sthandwa don’t stress
Everything is going to be fine.