Samridhi Girdhar/The Baron

In swooping ink strokes 

Our names had made the top 

Crowning the decrepit pages 

Our final feud was catching enough 

Was it insolent to think that we had won? 

Were all our efforts frivolous and absurd? 

I watched you fizzle out, moribund 

What was I to do? 

I was dimming at your side 

As our skin turned to ash 

I tried to throw the cursed to the flames 

They only grew smug 

I could not look your way 

I felt your rage, acidic, on my turned cheek  

Still, we died in solitude