Flight

I’m thirty birds that fly alone

Over sand, salt, sea and ancient stone

Into ash clouds

In the shade and amongst the cones

Fetal

When I was young my nest was struck

By many a rock that many had chucked

You and I watched and laughed

Leaving imprints that deeply stuck

Fight

I grew hardened and learnt to fly

Nesting elsewhere always to try

To nurture self-confidence

So we can tell you: “good bye”

Fragile

But my strategy showed patience

In retrospect, it was complacence

I should’ve hit you hard while you cried

Instead of letting you build your survailance

Fatal

And now we face once more

You cheated again, like before

Once again, I’m alone

But this time I’m visible

Connections with Strangers

On Saturday I felt connected with many a stranger. I was walking through the park and felt connected to nature, and to all the people around me. I felt connected to the little kid on a mini Range Rover car zooming past me and saying “hiiii” in the cutest manner possible. I felt connected to his parents who were smiling and injecting so much love into their kid that it reminded me of my father who would make time for us despite the chaos of the world he was in. I felt connected to the strangers like me who were people watching out of their sheer curiosity and love for humanity. I felt connected to the white runners who were fighting demons in their heads and the pain in their joints. I felt connected to the black runners who were joking around with one another and the physical sensations of running and being in community. I felt connected to the hard-working women in the Asian food stands I passed by, reminding me of my journey to where I am. I felt connected to unnamed street artists who plastered their opinions on the city walls. I felt connected to the German friends who reminded me of the beauty of friendship. I felt connected to the girls who were patiently waiting in long queues to visit a Harry Styles pop-up, reminding me of the intense excitement I used to get as a young boy for the most meaningless things. I felt connected to the tourists who were exploring a new city, reminding me of my own adventures in the past and exciting me for more to come. I felt connected to the Bangladeshi communities that reminded me of a life unoccupied by technology.

And then I felt connected with those that I love. Those that I have close to me, and those that are far away. Those that I talk to daily, and those that I don’t talk to as often. Those that I can’t talk to. Those that were here yesterday, and not anymore, and those that are here today but won’t be tomorrow.

In a world where it seems that we are all shameless I am grateful that I am powerless, and therefore have the capacity to choose to be human.