2 Poems

By: Fizza Abbas

Lockdown Chef

All that greens is not mint

As the lockdown began,
two wooden doors welcomed me
into a territory that was quite unknown:
the hub of spices,
the battlefield of condiments
where they fight over
who should go first
into the simmering pot—
became somewhat familiar.
 
In a Bollywood movie,
Kabhi Khushie Kabhi Gram,
there is a scene
where the mother instinctively knows
of the arrival of her son
and she brings arti  with her
to welcome him home -
I feel the same every time
I enter the kitchen now
The only difference is she knew it was her son
while I constantly have to ask my hubby,
Am I putting in coriander or mint?

arti– a ritual performed in homes and temples in which incense and light is offered to a deity

Barren Woman

A black-haired woman
with a thin, frail body,
lying naked from head to toe
with a kashkul in her hands,
asking for a penny
from those moving around the corridor.
 
I often dream of her.
 
Her hazel green eyes
complement the mole on her neck
while her delicate hands tell me
her mother never involved her in any household chores -
she was always her dear darling.
 
She was once called kindness
now she is known as aid

kashkul– a beggar’s bowl

Fizza Abbas is a Freelance Content Writer based in Karachi, Pakistan. She is fond of poetry and music. Her works have been published on quite a few platforms including Poetry Village and Poetry Pacific.