March 2026 – Page 2 – elancharan gunasekaran

from the outside looking in the phantom of the mango tree fills her form with laughter

one of many paradises: passion replaced by the soulless vice of machines

a deeper shade of red stains falling skies

in the branches overhead amongst leaves made fire the gentle call of birds: come home

tripping: i take the city by its horns and wrestle with neon lights

spring after dark i am the quiet you denied

thin fingers seal the setting sun beneath dirt under the pilgrim’s measured breath a prayer blankets the rage and peace settles in karmic layers of darkness

ghosts haunt the alleys between coffee shop tables driven by a phantom hunger that is seemingly present to the watcher’s good eye

dark before dawn glass towers reflect the solitude of another world

quiet now the pilgrim sleeps undisturbed upon a bed of thorns