Diary of a middle-schooler

“Take off my glasses
My eyes will hold your gaze
We both know it’s been ages
But it’s not about the days
That are gone; it’s only about you,
About us, and your shy confidence,
My bewilderment at your beauty,
My love for you, which had no ends
But which carried on in sorrow –
I have loved you still, as I did
Yesterday, and will, tomorrow.”

Once I thought I’d tell you this
(Years later, when we meet again)
When I’d known you’d never be mine
And wrote these verses in my pain.

Do you remember me, as I remember you?
However, I won’t pretend, I know it’s not true-
I remember only what I thought you were,
My infatuating dream,
The boy with sharp eyes and untidy hair-
You were more than him.

You had your flaws and a snobbish air
But of course I didn’t care
You talked to me once and I flew high
I never even questioned why-
You were the supreme,
You were my dream.

I know you’re not the dream I built
You’re just some pretty guy who’s smart
But what you made me feel sometime
Is what told me I had a heart.

Hibiscus

<inspired by the drama I Told Sunset About You>

Hibiscus.
His name plays in my mouth
My arms lie locked with his,
We’re fighting

Hibiscus
Anything to draw him in…
I throw my glances-
One at him and the next at the sea,
Wait for a moment
While I stare at another man

Hibiscus
My cheeks are volcanic
I can sense that you want me
Hibiscus-
Why are you running?
To her?- who thinks I am just a boy
A long lost friend-turned-rival-turned…
Hibiscus!

Why can’t I be Patroclus?
I’d die for you
Without an epic to sing of my name
Hibiscus,
I will be yours
Will you tell sunset about me?

Or will we be dried flowers
Within yellow pages of our book
The words never spoken aloud?
Hibiscus,
I want to be found.

The sun sleeps on your amber skin
The classroom turns into a raj darbar.
Erasers are now ivory eggs
Your calculator, a sceptre
Books shine like parchment scrolls
As the evening gold pours in through the window.

Maybe one scroll reads about
The famous beauty of the kingdom next door
Whose father, the King, wishes you to
Ask her hand in marriage.
Another is a threat
From a powerful Emperor
Who has his eyes on
One of your prosperous towns.
Another one a signal of truce
With some other neighbouring land.

Your beautiful sincere brow
Deepens into a thoughtful frown
The sun smouldering in your honeyed eyes
Your lean fingers curling around your chin.
Every eye is fixed on your pondering face
Each slight movement that you make
Makes my heart race.

In a moment you begin to compose
Not verses for me nor prose,
But letters in reply;
And you hand them to your messenger.
Finally you look at me
Butterflies flutter in my belly
As I lower my eyes, my cheeks burn
You reach out your arm
Is that a blood red rose for me?

The sun has set,
Through the big window I see
The sky draping its night robe inch by inch
I suddenly flinch as I find
It's just a pen that you returned to me;
My test sheet lies blank on my desk.
I can't help but feel vexed.
My mind needs some rest!