Up the Staircase Quarterly
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • Archives
  • Nominations
  • Support
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • Archives
  • Nominations
  • Support
Search

The Way Out by Abha Iyengar

Painting my face may help.

Strong lines of white,

yellow and red.

My body a deep purple.

He likes me scrubbed clean.

Every tiny morsel.


I could wear

a feather head dress.

Tomahawk in hand,

dance the Voodoo.

Throw some magic.

Bring the rain.

Pierce his heart.

Blood may taste fine.


They say a bear

licks a man’s feet

and kills him with laughter.

I could become a bear.

 
________________________
Abha Iyengar’s work has appeared in Insolent Rudder, Tattoo Highway, Dead Drunk Dublin, Danse Macabre, Long Story Short and others. She is a Kota Press Poetry Anthology Contest winner. Her poem-film, "Parwaaz", has been screened internationally. Her poetry collection, "Yearnings" has been recently published. Her website is: www.abhaiyengar.com ​
Picture
© 2023 Up the Staircase Quarterly
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • Archives
  • Nominations
  • Support