A few hours

and

an empty house

to be by yourself

with yourself

the silence around you

an antithesis to the

noise inside you

so then

curtains withdrawn

‘and there was light’

music on blast

nusrat fateh ali khan

already in a suroor

a ball in your hand

now against the wall

rebounding

like all your friendships

let the wall break

without fear

until what’s inside you

is outside

clinging to the walls

in every nook and cranny

what are you so angry about?

with every hit

comes an answer

not a revelation

surely

you know this part

all the answers

but this is necessary

the house nods

it vibrates

telling you

absorbing

how many more times?

it can take it

so supportive

a witness to your

trials and tribulations

it is strong

but

your arm’s heavier

muscles aching

sweat dripping

and suddenly

its over

you are spent

you switch off the music

draw the curtains

remove your clothes

padding upstairs

a harmonious silence

touching the walls as

you move beside them

you are exhausted

sleep beguiles you

the room dark

you sigh

so does the house

you are home