lone traveller
from kuala lumpur to tokyo to china
cold places, strange people warm and cold
so many unknowns that became knowns
that resulted in an occasional shopping tete-a-tete
and at those fortunate birthday celebrations
thrown by foreign friends
met at school, work place
we uttered words usually made between
friends of mere days
a coldness in between
as we sung and tried to break the ice
between the candles
lighted and blown
and they were usually in the nights
when lonely hearts sought out avenues
to brighten things up
for themselves and their newly acquired friend
and also workplace friends
who try to punctuate the life of a foreign soul
with things famliar, to light up the candles of his life journey

inspired by:

A Birthday Poem
Just past dawn, the sun stands
with its heavy red head
in a black stanchion of trees,
waiting for someone to come
with his bucket
for the foamy white light,
and then a long day in the pasture.
I too spend my days grazing,
feasting on every green moment
till darkness calls,
and with the others
I walk away into the night,
swinging the little tin bell
of my name.

Ted Kooser

zahida