Poetic Sensibility

03- Offers and Contributions

        Samay realized he was being too hard on himself. So he was looking forward to the next poetry gathering at Sarah's place. So what? He was allowed to be interested in other human beings. What he was really mad about, he realized, was the fact that he had to admit to Sarah that the session had been enjoyable, just as she had said it would be. And now, a fortnight later, he waited for the elevator in Sarah's building to take him up to her apartment. Just as the lift doors were closing he heard a faint, "Wait!" He stopped the doors from closing and was joined by Romi.

        He turned to look at his watch and then he looked at her. She was looking at him intently. Was that some kind of accusation he saw in her eyes? He couldn't help but be pleased with the fact that she was punctual. And neat. Annoyingly so. Her hair was tied back in a pony tail and she was in another t-shirt and jeans. He was not a fan of small-talk and had it been anyone else he would've suffered the awkward silence but somehow he couldn't stop himself from talking.

"What's up?" he asked. Disbelief followed quickly. Had he really said that? It almost sounded like he was flirting. And he wasn't.

He could see the glint of amusement in her eyes as she replied, "If you're asking what's on my mind, I am thinking about what everyone is going to read today."

        Before he could reply, the doors pinged open and after a quick smile, Romi stepped out. He followed her to Sarah's door. Everyone had already assembled. Samay couldn't help but notice that Kabir looked more comfortable today than he had a fortnight ago. He wondered why he felt so tightly wound around Romi and how is it that Kabir was at ease. It was probably because Kabir's work had recieved a stamp of approval and his own hadn't. Don't be ridiculous, he admonished himself. She doesn't seem like that kind of a person. And he didn't need anyone's approval.

        The second Samay took his seat on Romi's right, she turned to him, all smiley eyes and asked, "So are you going to read something today?"

        He quelled the urge to smile. She wasn't going to let him off that easy and he couldn't help but feel amused. He simply nodded. She smiled and turned to address everyone. He had a feeling today wasn't going to be similar to the last session.

        "So," she began. "There's no way I can say this without sounding like a tutor, which, by the way, I am; but today, I'd like a little more interaction between the poet and the listeners. Primarily, I want all of us to ask 'Why'. Why this word? Why this analogy? Why this comparison? Why this concept? Therefore, you must forgive me and everyone else in advance should we decide to poke our noses in whatever personal issues inspired you to write what you will read. So, who's going first?"

        Kabir volunteered to recite his poem. Since he was the first, few questions were asked. Most of them were asked by Romi. Samay figured that she was trying to engage others with the open-ended questions she asked. It's a good strategy, he grudgingly admitted. Asking questions forces people to think. Thinking, Samay knew, was a dying habit.

        By the time it was Rishi's turn to read, everyone was asking questions. Samay found it surprisingly illuminating. He discovered that he wanted to participate. He wanted to know what the others were thinking. Finally, he was the only one left. Romi looked at him expectantly. He cleared his throat; and adopting his favorite daDUM DAdum tone, he began to read the poem he had written a week ago:

"Piling it all

Without another thought

How did I believe

We are better than an animal?

To protect their young