… post midnight, a movie titled ‘Ugly Aur Pagli’

being over,

and with a cuppa Nescafe on hand,

an intellectual friend and guest of mine

asked for my earnest take on ‘love’ …

so i reflected awhile with a poker face,

eyes half shut,

but mum was the word …

followed by my dry smile of surrender

which i jus’ wished he’d understand …

( for me it’s the almighty distance …

a pair of ancient, deep, hazel eyes …

unchecked flood of haunting memories …

lonely sips of strong, black coffee …

this mocking, empty apartment …

and a dark, glass-ashtray

nearly filled with many cigarette butts

… Djarum Black … brand Indonesia …

now piled up in a little, ashy mess )

“only a hollow night’s tyrant silence

and shadows, perhaps, has the

real answer” i inwardly concluded

before drifting away to other topics for better …