When Your Chakras Become Planets

I had a fit of the clevers the other day
ripped the arms off 
an oversized overcoat
turned it into a hibernacle
then crawled in to sleep away 
this ghostly winter that descended 
unwelcome
like an out-of-place glitter ball
(beautiful but wholly unhelpful)

I imagined us all around the fire 
like so many summers ago 
toasting our bones night after night
in the liminal autumn slimness
fending off the blade of chill
each of us telling a tale in turn
how we navigated this mortal maze
some gallant time or other

and I had to crush that sweet bitch
nostalgia, who tried to court me
in the wolf moon hours.  
What’s with you? I said.
Can’t you see I’m immune?
She slunk away to haunt someone else
and left me hunting dreams
in stealth fox mode
as I slipped between the worlds
beyond skin 
beyond heart’s language.

^{_{© N Nazir 2023}}

Written for Shay’s Word Garden where Shay brings us inspiration with lyricist Keith Reid (words used: overcoat, ghostly, descended, blade, tale, mortal, maze). The Word list is still up until next Wed 11th Jan if you want to take part.