Amreeta Lethe Chowdhury

Traversed have I many a wind-choked galaxy,
And heard of men who’ve denounced:
My most ardent plea — us living symbiotically
And leaden love which for you I pronounce.
In emerald domes have I grown
For your palette — ripe and sundry oranges
And for your earthen, muted tones
Teal seas I’ve bled into bladed phalanges.

And anatomise will I
These lips, nose, ears, fears, eyes
Ferrous hands, oxidised, stain’d — for you to hold,
And when all returns to stardust, my severed digits for you to mould.

Prepare then your horse-hair brushes
And fill in my wearied, worn circuit board with gold
For you to live with me — of course, symbiotically
Is after all, what science has foretold.