Poems by Azeem S. Khan

Poems by Azeem S. Khan

VACUUM

I can do your carpet and bare floors, blinds and draperies too. But you only use me on your carpet. Is that all you think I can do? I’m a new model of vacuum, you see… Hot or cold, steamy or dry, on my back or standing upright, a manual push or just program me to run. I come with a manual—just take some time and read. There’s even a telephone number if you want to know more about me. Maintenance is a breeze, a simple cover—nothing fancy. But please be gentle when my filter gets dusty. I can guarantee you a lifetime of happiness because of all that I can do. But back to the carpet I go— because you never got to know me and all that I can offer you.

AMONG THE LIVING

I used to live, but now I am just alive. Alive in this beautiful casket, watching all the people living around me. I pray someday I will be able to walk among the living. But for now I have to lie in this beautiful casket I live in.

I yearn to live again. And in the darkness of my sorrow, I can see the bright lights. And in the echoes of my screams, I can hear the applause. And in my nightmares, I can dream of the happiness to come. Hands to the sky weeping in my casket tears rising so I climb higher and higher looking down in fear for my life and the ones lost, praying for someone to open a door and let the tears out and let me in.

MOONLIGHT

Living in the moonlight of love, turbulent thoughts possess my mind. My emotions in excruciating pain. My heart weeps, as my soul decays. The Grim Reaper summons me. Maybe he will love me, so I begin my journey. One last step forward to eternity, or one step back to take control of my destiny? Suddenly an encroaching voice consumes me speaking of hope with a vision of my destiny. I fall to my knees in tears questioning its promises questioning why it saved me. Arose the sun as the moonlight hides maybe to return for another night. I grace the floor with conflicting thoughts of what will be but the message of the voice now lives in me. LIMITLESS

Dedicated to my parents, Majid Khan & Nafisa Kalamadeen-Khan The greatest man I will ever know, My Father. The greatest woman I will ever know, My Mother. The greatest parents, My parents. Thank you. For the love, For the religion, For the sacrifices, For the values, For the morals, For the education, For the scolding, For the bedtime stories, For the birthday parties, For the drive-in movies, For the Sunday picnics, For the Easter Mondays, For the summer vacations, For the Christmas mornings, For the New Year’s Eve, For the crayons and chalk, For the memories, But most importantly For NEVER limiting me. My infinite gratitude, Mommy and Daddy.