By: Rati Agnihotri

Please
Crack the moon-whip
Please
No
Under surveillance humanity
But as i say
Please crack the moon-ship
Shhh, the priests sitting outside the graveyard are listening
And the moon is shifting its gaze to your side of things
The colour from your dress
All spilled out on the  moon-sick grass
But please crack the moon-whip
As i say
Blood and beasts can’t wait anymore
The carnival is all set up
The form, the lure, the curvature of that schizophrenia
That will grip you and me
As we walk blindfolded
On the moon-studded grass
Shh, what are you talking about?
The sealings on the wounds have all come off
But please crack the moon-whip
As i say
Please
The venom is all drying up
What a waste it would be
Before the worms crawl back to the heart
Please crack the moon-whip
please

The blood has left the body
And is all over the grass
Even the salt from the tear drops
Has been hijacked and  been taken off to a  laboratory
Our guts too are being taken one by one
To that brand new museum of anthropology
They are not even bloody letting me close my eyes
Lest that fine expression they are looking for changes
Been centuries now
And my eyes are aching
My heart, i don’t even know where it is gone
My fingers tremble but they slither the grass still
Must i say, again and again
Please crack the moon-whip
Please……….

****

[Rati Agnihotri currently works as a TV Script Writer and Reporter for CNC World TV, Xinhua Media Group China. She is based at their New Delhi office.  
Rati has also worked as a radio and online journalist for the south Asian service of Deutsche Welle in Bonn, Germany.
Ms Agnihotri completed her MA International Journalism from University of Leeds, U.K. in December 2007 and BA Hons English Literature from Miranda House, Delhi University in 2006.
Rati writes poetry in both Hindi and English.  Her English poems have been published in journals like Indian Literature, South Asian Ensemble, The Challenge,  Muse India, Kritya, Cerebration, Nether and Misty Mountain Review.  Her Hindi poem ‘Teesri Duniya’ was recently published in the ‘Yuva Visheshaank’ of Samvadiya magazine. Ms Agnihotri also runs a poetry group, ‘Moonweavers – Chaand ke Julaahe’ in Delhi. The group organizes poetry open mics, informal poetic discourse sessions, brainstorming sessions on poetry, etc. ]