When I am alone

“When I am alone I become my friend” – Sybil Wettasinghe

When I  am alone

A child comes running

along a nondescript niyara

wades across canal

holds my hand

drags me to king-coconut days

of play houses and roasted Jak seeds.

When alone

I walk from time to time

peer into eyes that have not aged

gather grandmother’s love

mother’s admonishment

and after fuss and tear their work have done

flop on chair or floor

they with their chores

and I in the circles of protective eyes.

When I am alone

I toss my passport into the Kelani Ganga

take flight from Hanwella

attend rallies and meetings

visit coffeeshop conversation

lovers and love-making

from before and after.

When I am alone

I roll like a pebble in a river

find traction in a bicycle chain

and wait for all the sunsets

I had missed. 

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