A leech on arm—take it off!
"Don't," he said, with a scoff.
It's sucking my blood; it's a clear view.
"Selfish lady, leech is dependent on you."

Bleeding arm for which I weep,
Lookin’ at the knife that pierced me deep.
I screamed—stay away I plead.
The knife asked, "I just need closeness, why do you bleed?"

It's sweet, too sweet to have.
Drowning in sweetness—is that what I crave?
But I'm dying... isn't it funny?
Oh, you always mixed poison with honey.

You said all of 'em are bad,
Locked me in to 'save' me from the red.
You said I'm free—it's a cage, not home anymore,
I asked but you never opened the door.

The distorted image I see,
"You're ugly," it whispered to the unreal reflection of me.
I heard something while glimpsing—
The cracked mirror said I need fixing.

Predator and prey—run and chase.
The lamb ran fast to escape that deadly phase.
To the not-so-inconsiderate lamb, the wolf did say—
"I'm hungry yet you ran away."

"C'mon lady, just a peck.
A little pinch—no big attack."
Mosquito net secured on my bed,
"Try it once... maybe you'll like it." The mosquito said.

I don't like sweets, in refusal—I shook my head,
"Eat the candy," to coax me, he said.
No-no-no, I don't want a sweet treat.
"But I like it—so you have to eat."

The radio played the song I hate,
"You'll start to like it—just wait."
After multiple no's, the radio shut and turned to wall.
"Not my song? Then I don't play at all."

"With my scissors, a little trim.
Smile bird—don't look so grim.
It's not that I don't want you to be free,
It's my love, I want you to live with me."

Pebble at the honeycomb—just fun,
Haha, it broke, run-run-run.
Honeybee stung: "You overdramatic bee."
"It was a joke—you didn't have to sting me!"

Spraying some water when the soil started to dry,
"See, I'm watering—why do you cry?"
The roots aren't nourished yet... "Anyway, g'bye."
"More water to come later—just don't die."

On the beach, where waves dance.
Alone without 'em—with 'em, I'm in trance.
Sometimes they're close, sometimes out of sight.
On the shore, I chase the waves—and it isn't right.

"I bought a new cat—such a beautiful thing.
An obedient one—she dances when I sing.
See my dear... to me, you matter.
Learn something instead of complaining—she listens better."

Heavy rash vehicle—I can't hold your weight.
"You're the problem; the crash wasn't my fate."
"Broken road," said the lorry.
"It's your fault—now say sorry."

At the station—for hours, I stayed.
Said it’s arriving… always delayed.
Since my reservation’s done, I can’t just cease.
Train o’ train—come soon, please.

"Once a candle—now just melted wax in sight.
The one I lit, for its bright light.
You're extinguished, and I'm hurt—the gloom is stark.
How dare you make the room so dark!"

"It's so cold—the water you pour.
Make it warmer, fill me more.
Hmm, it's warm... but not warm enough still."
The bucket with the hole—impossible to fill.

"Don't sit by the window, come here.
Why do you need sunlight? Stay near.
Forget your luminous sources, only I'm right.
I'm bright enough, you don't need more light"

"I'm shiny, I'm precious," the crown bragged.
"Oh head, you're lowly—lemme show you royalty." It exclaimed.
"You're nothing, you're so lucky to have me." Crown sneered.
Humility would be more beautiful, the head declared.

The flower said, don't touch—let me be.
The caterpillar asked, "Some butterflies do, why not me?
Oh trust me, you'd like it—give it a try?"
Flower answered: No, you can't—you're not a butterfly.

It's a general poem—not a cue.
If you're not toxic, then it's not written on you.
Though we're all a lil' toxic, honestly I'd say—
Among all the toxic tales, which one do you portray?

-Aditi Hayaran (Larkspur)