Luminol by Kamala Das


Love-lorn,
It is only
Wise at times, to let sleep
Make holes in memory, even
If it
Be the cold and
Luminous sleep banked in
The heart of pills, for he shall not
Enter,
You ruthless one,
Being human, clumsy
With noise and movement, the soul’s mute
Arena,
That silent sleep inside your sleep.




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