Verboten

I whisper his name among the weeds
krishna krishna krishna
He does not hear.

I wear in my hair jasmine strings
And intoxicating sweetness
krishna does not smell.

I show him sights familiar, familial
krishna smiles, but he doesn’t see.

I offer him nectar,
all the flavours of the world – a life
He doesn’t taste.

And then he stands before me
In the flesh, wearing only a question
And now I cannot touch.