You and I my friends my lovers walking in step forward and back stumble and recover from dad and mom from ketamine and dreams fall down and rise but we don’t surrender we don’t retreat it isn’t easy it isn’t free but it’s beautiful if you believe. By- Shaleen Rakesh (Shaleen works as an activist on gay rights in New Delhi, India. When he is … Continue reading Just us two – Shaleen Rakesh
(Photo courtesy: Pinterest) Feverish with youth still full of lust for the aftershave on his neck I met a boy he was beautiful all his demons displayed openly as fading scars he had a ruinous heart only attracted boys who tended to disappear into the loneliness of the night he loved me very much in a way I could not understand. July 2013: heineken lite … Continue reading A memory of summer – Shaleen Rakesh
(Photo Courtesy: Pinterest) The sound waves lingered in the deafening silence that followed I jumped fences at the cemetery clutching wilted flowers bargaining for sleep in the night I see the disco lights still flickering their last gasp s I admit I turned away drinking iced tea to keep cool and pretending the moon beams did not whisper your name. Continue reading When the music died – Shaleen Rakesh
. (Photo Courtesy: Pinterest) You bit into the skin a picture of a blue sailboat now sailing across your morning and into my day this crude way of crossing that manages to convey both carefulness and carnality I take in the tone and texture of your burning flesh while your eyes remain wide unseeing soft wet sounds when you shower I cannot tear my gaze … Continue reading Blue skin – Shaleen Rakesh
(Artwork by Shaleen Rakesh) A white frothy steam in my coffee cup wakes me up no flavour no skin this is my holiday the window slides across my dream at last a morning that does not scream between my legs a calm as natural as water as I stretch he puts down his face on my lap for a feel of quiet his lips are … Continue reading Your face across mine – Shaleen Rakesh
(Art Work by Shaleen Rakesh) Like a dog returning to the river that has quietly run dry I sit on your bed and try, to sniff the sheets for traces of summer heat subtly the way your love is barely sweet my spirits lift as I sort out your smell but your sheets have been washed cleansed of all the times where I slept so … Continue reading Traces of summer heat – Shaleen Rakesh
(Sketch courtesy Shaleen Rakesh) Your body waves and nimble feet immersing like plunging fish as water parts, a swish your eyes are set on me and like fish-hooks for this once I tempt folly stuck in your stare we kiss quietly, lips locked and pull the water down from the skies, falling like sheets of music, come love me like monsoon fall into me come … Continue reading Come as raindrops – Shaleen Rakesh
(The Old Man and The Sea – Shaleen Rakesh) He sits there in an old wooden boat his hands folded together like gnarled branches of an ancient oak tree that intertwine and combine with details in the wrinkles like the caves of arunachala he doesn’t say anything he just looks at me as if examining youth he and time have been together long enough he … Continue reading The Old man and the Sea – Shaleen Rakesh
(Photo Courtesy Shaleen Rakesh) As you shut the door a soft wash of sunlight sweeps across your brown skin you stand in front of me looking ahead, as the blue fades from the sky and I can imagine last night your fingers on my neck bold but then a little shy this is new I promise to try if you’d let me but before that … Continue reading A little soft, A little bold – Shaleen Rakesh
Shaleen works as an activist on gay rights in New Delhi, India. When he is (also when he is not) traveling down fabulous Indian village roads, he takes pictures, draws and writes poetry. The Bling Diary is a queer poetry and art column updated whenever its time to run down the street with sparklers. Continue reading Weekend Comic Nerd Sketchbook – Shaleen Rakesh
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