16 February 2026

Fragrance

If you dive deep
inside someone and 
plant a flower.
perhaps a jasmine.

and if it stays and 
survives and endures 
the forces of longing 
on good or bad days-

a subtle fragrance 
emanates. 

a yearning stretched 
across time-
surviving delays, 
denials, and onslaught 
of non-reciprocation-

a thirst that doesn't 
seek relief or validation.

ohh! this scent in my
unguarded heart.
a wound that refuses
to close, to remind me
what once felt-

it talks with the gentle 
wind that blows from 
the west and 
settles deeper in
folds of memory like
quietude after a
heartfelt laughter.