The Burning Bride (Poem)

The Burning Bride

Its been a winding journey

for me…

I watch the waves of golden lights

flicker…burn…

Could

this

be

hell?

I fall down…

Aching memories starts to reel…

…..Visions…..

I saw my father and I,

treading moments of love,

discovering the naked field

filled with mango trees on bloom.

I saw my mother and I,

drawn to the shimmering wonders

of the golden heart-shape fruits

ready to harvest.

…my wedding…

every women’s dream,

the greatest event in my life-

bonding kinship

and enormous resources…

the hall,

the ceremony,

the feast…

I saw my groom and I

making every wishes to the stars,

never letting go of the love we’ve found.

Love…

I thought i had found the greatest story it will ever told.

Only now that I realize…

It was only I who loved….

I am here lying,

wrapped in a kerosene soaked sari.

The burning cloth on my skin

sends tons of pains to my bones.

My husband watches me from afar

Is he thinking of my pain too?

Or only my price tag that isn’t enough for him…..

All i can feel is pain, pain and more pain….

The love of my husband is measurable,

equivalent to a price tag….

and mine is not enough…..

Finally,

my journey is over…

the mountain of flame blasts and takes away my last breath

Out my ashes lives a memory…

An ill-fated burning bride’s tragedy…

waiting to be told.

The Burning Bride—© Airyn R. Lentija 2010
(This poem was published in Human Rigths and Culture-an e-pubication of the Asian Human Rights Commission)