” (There are) many stories which are not on paper, they are written in the bodies and minds of women.”- Amrita Pritam

This flesh does not show the stories it holds
save for some visible scars
Some self-inflicted, while others carved
with mental pain this complex life brought

And though this body now weathered and old
still thrums with the vibrance of naive youth
This beating heart begs this mellowing mind
pleads for more; Memories of tales untold
when the candle burns low, long shadows enfold
and we have drunk the last of the wine

©2022 Linda Lee Lyberg

Author’s Note: Written For dVerse Poetics where Punam is hosting. Our challenge is to choose one of the lines she shared with us from Amrita Pritam and use it as inspiration. The quote at the beginning of my post is the line I chose.