Sour Notes

Playing for you has made me realize,
Against my sour, dormant guise, that your view’s
Gentle gaze grazes my life, which must rise.

I last looked into a fountain disguised;
We, hand-in-hand, swam through reflections true,
Playing for you has made me realize.

My ears, pressed against your sweet world’s eyes,
Drink the colors, leaving you with a blue,
Gentle gaze grazing my life, which must rise.

I look into our fountain un-disguised;
I, all aloof and alone, look for you,
Playing for you has made me realize.

Such awful thorns adorn my awful eyes,
Sourly stinging, not playing, singing
Gentle gaze grazing my life, which must rise.

Sour screaming, echoes identified –
My life is streaming, fleeting and subdued;
Playing for you has made me realize:
Gentle gaze grazes my life, which must rise.

Haseeb Haider is a New York-based writer whose poetry, speeches, and short-stories are locally renowned. You can find his work in various competitions and literary magazines; however, most notably, in his town’s central school district board meetings, where he will advocate for student’s access to gender-neutral bathrooms. He’s also written various pieces on insulin affordability, which will be unveiled and spoken about on April Twentieth at a public venue. His last-completed lecture was at Rutgers University, where he taught advanced story-structure to multiple students. When he’s not bleeding into his pen, he absolutely dogs his friends in basketball, reads (anything at all), and listens to music. His favorite artists are: Kendrick Lamar, TV Girl, Toshifumi Hinata, and AZALI. His favorites always change.