A Poetic Swim
Blood Under My Skin
An American Haiku Series
Beneath my skin and flesh
Flows a network of river streams
Carrying water as a fearless force
Source of life
Gushing and rushing harmonically
While my lungs do left and right lunges
My inside
Celebrating Christmas every day
Santa sailing on the river
Coming to say hello to little organ-islands
Distributing gifts, he brought for them
Knowing all their survival needs
River surface glowing
Red like rubies
Opaquing inside from the outside
Becoming a flowing wall
A fortress that can move
Soldiers patrolling, wearing white caps
A defense formation strong enough
For all civilians of the organ-islands
Living freely, assured of their safety
Best among the swimmers
The yellow cap officers
Carry big plasmic guns
Heavily backed by advanced technology
Engineered with excellence
Commissioned by Department of Nutrients
Deployed with diligence
In yellow submarines
Delivering food to many dozens
Sucking the uneaten food left on the plates
Packed and shipped back as capsules
Keeping the islands clean
In times of emergency evacuation
Platelet shield is activated
Protecting rubies from theft
Sometimes there are calamities
Disastrous flood and lava
Suffocating some and killing few yet to be born
A world in its own
Miracle inside, a little less known
Blood under my skin
Tapan Avasthi 2019
