You were here yet | Bibhu Padhi

I was to transfer my hand-written
words to a safer place, where
they wouldn’t be lost to the magic
of our ill-maintained shelves,
neighbouring universes.
I remember how about a minute ago
I had spoken to you and you had
warned me against presences that
trouble us by their sheer, twisted look.
“The devil is there with you, right now,”
you said. I heard the words but assumed
that you just wanted to be funny as always.
By the time I sat before the keyboard
and the monitor, I had forgotten
what you had said (so responsibly, with
such love as I was in need of) as if I was
either too sure about myself, or, as always,
defied the discreet precision of your words.

I don’t know why I forget life’s
precious things, why I haven’t
learnt yet to remember what
you say in such innocence as we lost
whispers (so it may not be heard by those
very familiarly treacherous, arctic ears),
in such innocence that I always think
you are always a child and know
a lot less than me about what I
should be doing with my things and myself.
I always feel sorry, go through
the whole process of excuses and prayers
all over again, for the final forgiving
and yet repeat my mistakes as if I am
what I was forty years ago and must not be
forgiven any further than now, while
you are here still–your voice softer,
heard only by an unknown ear.

Indian Literature | AUthor | Bibhu Padhi | Read more of Bibhu Padhi in Indian Reivew. Bibhu has published eight books of poems. Visit us and read more…

Indian Review | Author Profile | Bibhu Padhi has published eight books of poems. His poems have appeared in distinguished magazines throughout the English-speaking countries, such as Indian Literature, The Illustrated Weekly of India, Quest, Contemporary, Encounter, The Poetry Review, Poetry Wales, The Rialto, Stand, New Letters, New Criterion, Poetry (Chicago), Prairie Schooner, Southwest Review, The Literary Review and TriQuarterly, the Antigonish Review and Queen’s Quarterly. His poems have been included in numerous anthologies, two of the most recent being 60 Indian Poets (Penguin) and The HarperCollins Book of English Poetry.
He has also written a book on D.H.Lawrence and co-written (with his wife, Minakshi Padhi) a reference book on Indian Philosophy and Religion.