Sky Burial

Vaishnavi Kolluru
2023

Rain is pervasive in veiling 
it coats you in its mystery 
attempt to photograph it 
and your lens grows cloudy. 
stick your tongue out 
and suddenly the clouds have parted: 
rain falls everywhere 
but on your tongue. 
in these respects, 
a strong cyclone 
and a delicate drizzle 
resemble one another 
unless Wind is present 
to send a chill down your spine.  
Wind is the great unveiler 
who blows away the safe-keepings of Rain 
co-inhabits the skies 
and dismantles the pocket of stealth 
that Rain spills upon the world. 
Wind clears up your lens 
and bites your tongue 
and guides your body  
in the direction of truth. 
Wind exposes the cold of Rain 
for until she attempts to rid our 
bodies of the foul liquid that 
Rain has drenched us in, 
we do not appreciate  
the volume of water 
that sticks to our clothes 
sticks our clothes to our skin 
weighs us down and 
plants us into the dirt 
to mingle with the filth below. 
Wind removes the muck 
that insulates us from 
the frigid realities of life, 
yet we despise Wind 
when Rain is present 
for we would much rather  
feel secure in warm soil 
than feel truth in cold air.