Once in a Blue Moon

That Man with heavy glasses-

Once forgot to look at the Stars in a hurry;

Took a last sip of the tawny liquid, chanced a glance at vintage veins,

And with the petty humming, he went on steady-

Again.

"See that Vision in Red over there?

Happens to be Dave's third catch of the day. Can you believe that godforsaken swine?"

Chews and spits a budding boy, soft in his long sleeves and lean neckline.

"Yeah?" lets the Man out a pointless sneeze duly to his cold.

"Mama, look, candy canes! Mama, please! Mama, one! MAMA!"

"Wait up, Nancy! Wait up! That stupid brother of yours is at it again!"

"Three for two dollars, three for two dollars! There you go, kids! Happy Carnival!"

Balloons battle in lust as parched knuckles turn white rebelling a worn-out Needle.

"So, there the bloody blond was! Ready with his burnt belly button and what?

Fifteen bucks! In case you didn't hear it- all bare, nine hours and yes, FIFTEEN!"

Fails the Man to cover his forearm and tightens his sharpened grip as he walks

While the Moonlight-Missus speaks in gibberish flipping her slavish auburn locks.

"… King to Rook 2/ Rook to King's Rook 3/ Queen takes Knight Pawn/

Bishop to Bishop 8/ Discovered check and … by the Mother of trickeries, Mate!"

Smirks the confidant- evil sparks in his eyes and flashy fungus grows on purpose

When shy Doors of his house are unkind to the snowy Neon woods lowering close.

"You didn't notice, did you? You hear, but you don't really Listen.

Are you done painting your poker-face, or need I explain how rare it is to even exist?"

Years after years after years of lordly dreams bring nothing new;

Yet half-deaf the fair woman sees veiled in her hush-hush secrecy I know not what. 

"Now, tell me something about yourself- your life, your career, everything.

Who throws you a bone to bark at the Sunrise and wag that civil tail at times unruly?"

Figure holds its breath for his sound Silhouette to walk in with slow flare-

Sleeping close to a horrible Jester or pleasing pantomimes young, lame and dead.

"I forgot my pen- glad not what the Trojan Horse in levity would do;

Sad though that I could turn pages after pages of books you, of all could never read."

Frowns a fervent planet on its owlish orbs round and round, wide and wide,

As walls of tales untold and sighs unheard of men unknown reach for his blue, blue robes. 

Cold caramel eyes thus looked for the blues around

And found the all teary Dusk instead-

For the Man they never truly knew forgot to gaze into the Stars once in a hurry-

Again.

Nishat Atiya Shoilee is a Lecturer of English Literature at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. She is also Sub Editor of Star Literature and Star Reviews pages of  The Daily Star.