Silken shroud

Billowing black cloud
gossamer silken shroud
muffling the beating heart
drumming its own rhythm
multicoloured shiny smooth lining
interwoven dream skeins
folded chits of intent
hidden in inner pockets
keys to the doors opening out
the winding avenues; narrowing
the waning scene; blurring away
spools of thread
stretching to unravel;
slipping through fingers
catch the tail wind
the ribbon splitting the sky
an uninhibited dance
a diamond;
soaring into the unknown blue;
hits the red smear
the glass ceiling
billowing black cloud.

-Anuradha Venkatnarayan