Always

they were worried   when her levels dropped   they had hoped   when they named her   she would run on forever   but their dreams   would soon dry up   she couldn't   live up to her name-   Always.      - Jason

like a souvenir   of the most lovely thing   she was ever given,   she carries the frowning scar   of a c section   under her belly   without a care.     customers will only see   what lies beneath.      - Nikita

Blue

It could be so many things... what does it mean to you?

Here's our blue.

red blood in my blue veins is love flushed into drains no use to this refuse without  you.     - Jason

like an infant I like to curl up in the curves of letters in the crooks of words forged in ink. the blue is warm and fluffy, and softly sings me to sleep.   - Nikita

Heat

Its guest-writer time. Kanika Raj and Jason Menezes have brought us a heat wave. Read and melt.

P.S. It also happens to be Kanika's birthday so raise your shot glasses and join us as we wish her. Happy Birthday!!

two eyes, two ears,   two hands, two feet-   and yet   the same make    doesn't guarantee repeats   Alladin's rusted lamp produced    a very different kind of heat.         - Jason

That melted drop of icecream,   Trickling down your thumb,   That you lick off   Before it falls   Or   That little drop of sweat,   Following your spine,   That meets his hands   On their way up   All you need is a little heat.   - Kanika

Moon

the next time   you try   to touch me   in the dark   i will slit your throat   over a full moon   putting a big red signal    in the sky   for people like you   who just don't get the point.         - Jason

I watch   time go by   in the patterns she leaves   on your thigh.   Some nights she breaks you   In slivers.   Some nights in half   Or full.   And some nights    I    am the sky.   My moon obscure,    and my clouds    awry.   - Nikita

Open

If you get only one wish-   a four letter word   and an option   between two body parts,   which one would you choose   the legs or the heart.   - Jason

Like sunflowers,   all souls will unfold   only   in the light of their Sun.      - Nikita

Rain

every time     you walk in the rain       imagine                          each drop   that touches your skin   is a promise   of a kiss              that I will claim   when our monsoon finally    comes.   - Jason

On wizened    hands   dry like an old tree stump,   drops fall in twos and threes.   she smiles a wrinkled   slow motion smile   at an age old memory.   rain rain,   come again.   - Nikita

Fear

Every once in a while, we're inspired to do more than one interpretation of a theme. This one inspired Jason so much, he decided to face his fear twice over.

i leapt       over fear;     a fledgling     with half-formed wings.     falling was imminent,     i knew it deep within.     now memories cut     like a blade meeting skin-     you drew      me out     i drew you in.

As a child I was afraid     of darkness and the dead,     but with time queerer things     have crept into my head.     These days what thrills me     and yet fills me with dread;     is that at times, quite willingly,     I take monsters to bed.

Return

We're back!

And we haven't changed one bit. Its time to guess which one of us wrote which piece. 

	Each time she throws her crown of thorns and hits the nail on the perfect spot I spread myself bare on a wooden cross. And promise Never to come back.		I left my reflection in the empty house above the wash-basin behind closed doors. I set out not quite myself never knowing emptiness could follow and drag me back and smugly say- welcome home.

Lust

Before we take 

a teeny tiny break

and cool our heels for summer,

thought we'd leave you this

with Puja Gokarn writing a sinful guest piece

and a theme that promises to be a stunner.

(This is exactly why we need the break :P)

	Says Demure That you would lure me piece by piece. But you who cease to stick to the expected, Tear me to shreds And reach my brazen core. And then, just when I hunger for more You indulge in the lure. And piece by piece I string together Freezing warmth groping my heart; And sometimes while thinking My demure cheeks color, And sometimes while thinking My brazen legs part. - Puja		it has drowned me, washed over me left me alone on barren shores soaked in my shame. tonight, i pull you in to ride the waves. i return dripping the syllables of your name. -Nikita

I

It should have been the simplest theme. And yet writing "I" as a Shot may have been one of our most difficult ones so far. Wonder what that says about us :p 

	spell god in one letter. -Jason		it became blurry and blotchy under torrential rain. drop after drop it flowed from my eyes and my nose. until there was none but the knowledge: I am nothing without my Dream. -Nikita