The Hearth

She untied the faggot thoughts

And burnt in the hearth of her mind

I saw,in the glow of molten gold

Deep in her sunken eyes

Frozen dreams-

-the remnants of an unfinished story

Her face pale, yet kind,

Invaded by premature wrinkles

Seemed lost in thoughts.

Cursing the gush of the  wind

Stole through the palm leaves

Of the thatch,

She poked the fire and cuddled me

She ran her fingers through my coarse hair

And caressed my face.

I could feel the hard callouses of her palm

The indelible marks

Left by life-long drudgery

She held my head

Tightly against her heart.

The rhythm of her heart beat,

The elixir of love

Suffused into my frail body.

It was a lullaby

At the side of the hearth.

I sank deep

Into the womb

And lay like a foetus.