Amlanjyoti Goswami‘s new book of poetry, Vital Signs (Poetrywala) follows his widely reviewed collection, River Wedding (Poetrywala). Published in journals and anthologies across the world, including Poetry, The Poetry Review, Penguin Vintage, Rattle and Sahitya Akademi, he is also a Best of the Net and Pushcart nominee. His work has appeared on street walls of Christchurch, buses in Philadelphia, exhibitions in Johannesburg and an e-gallery in Brighton. He has reviewed poetry for Modern Poetry in Translation and has read at various places, including New York, Boston and Delhi. He grew up in Guwahati, Assam and lives in Delhi.

Lonely

Evening is
A sad place to be

In winter.
That’s why

They have
Song and dance.

You can hear the fridge breathe,
The clock’s heartbeat.

Outside, smoky, war-like.
The planets have been at it.

Silence speaks slowly.
When all else fails

I have left a poem
For you.

Silk

Fragrant Kanjeevaram, shimmering Benarsi, slippery Dhakai.
Our stolen eyes meet half-way in the past.

Silk once ran down our lives
Our breath one, the warp and weave

Unravelling with the morning sun.
But here you are, rolling out miles

Of fresh green muslin, white draping jasmine.
Salty guava, trinkets of fire, a flowing river

To a new customer, as you murmur
One arc to another, like a new border.

And I hold cloth between thumb and forefinger,
Smell starch, pause between breath

Between glittering walls, asking silk
To show the way again.

Where will the sari fall – your side or mine?
Where will our roads lead this time?