Chemmani ’25

M. C. Kanula

I tried burying it, but kept it safely locked,
and cast away the keys
to keep its shadow from ever touching
the flowers I have, growing at my feet.
For my children’s sake
and their children’s—
for those little ones,
I can’t afford grief.

But what do you do
when moving on feels like betraying
and holding on drags you further apart
from the world, and those around?

The skies change, and the clouds return.
The earth no longer bears fruit—
It spits out bones.

Bogeys rise out of the land
like djinns rubbed free of a lamp.
But there’s no wish they can grant.
They bring with them the keys
And begin the quiet unlocking.

Memories flood through my eyes.
It was a week after his birthday.
He was wearing the same shirt when they took him.

 M. C. Kanula has an LLB from the University of Colombo and is currently pursuing a degree in English and English Language Teaching at the Open University of Sri Lanka.

Image source: https://bit.ly/4dfmpW0

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