now i know

You love peonies in the garden, 

and i love the way you smile at

them while plucking and hiding

under your coat to keep it fresh. 

You love just two sugar cubes

in your hard-beaten latte and 

i love watching how you stirr it

in a way uncommon in our town. 

You love your handkerchief put

between your trousers and suit 

but i love the moment when you

are dressed well with briefcase in hand. 

You love reading exactly fifty three

words from the weekly before the bed 

and i love to switch off the lamp while

watching you snor with a wide open mouth. 

You love mac and cheese on sundays

with a bit sweet-spicy toppings over it

and i love waking up early on sunday mornings to make your inner child revive. 

You love the cool local breeze entering

the valley in dusky hours and i love how

that wind touches my face after rinsing

first your face making me hard to breathe. 

You know, now i know what you love. 

you know it took me three years to 

grow peonies in the garden, 

but i grew them. 

you know how i began drinking coffee

with just two sugar cubes. 

you know how i put lavender scent

on your handkerchief every night 

before making the bed. 

you know how i put the book off

your face when you slept. 

you know i was never a fond of

cooking or waking up early. 

you know why i chose evenings

for feeling smooches without your touch.

You know i know about

the peonies, the coffee,

the handkerchief, the book, 

the breakfast and the breeze.

I am sorry i read all this in the

love letter sent by your mistress. 

She deciphered all your secrets to me 

and i anchored all your passions for you. 

I think if you have ever 

talked to me, but i know everything, 

i know everything what you love. 

- chetna 🌻