architects

they say, "search for

architects of your home, "

but they mean that

i need to knock the 

doors of ghouls. 

i've heard they raided 

my dwelling when 

i was just fourteen, 

i've heard they just 

left burning wax

over my skins when

i was simply sixteen, 

i've heard they even 

kept deepening the

wound on my chest

and loading the albratoss

when i was turning  

notoriously nineteen. 

they say, "where are 

architects of your home? "

but they mean that

i need to strike my head

to the shelf full of 

manuscripts written 

by blooded distal finger ends

of immortal ghouls, 

i've heard they never 

spare even the fate of 

last breath one is taking, 

i've heard they never 

fear how statues speak

volumes of obduracy, 

i've heard they never

change the flesh of one

who is bereftly burning, 

who're the architects anyway, 

but i am going to beg 

at the feet of ghouls

who indeed erected my home, 

because i've heard 

they show up when 

called in timeless insurgency, 

i've heard in the streets 

how people weep and win 

in the homes made 

by the ghouls. 

- chetna 🌻