The house is soundless

By Sunayna Pal

I find six strawberries
drowned in a blue Ikea bowl
abandoned

on the orderly marble counter
with seeds that have left their body
floating together on the stagnant surface

they were edible and fresh
when you soaked them that night
for your oatmeal

tired and lifeless
I drain the water in the steel sink
splashing seeds like childhood memories

tossing the berries in the trash
freeing a few fruit flies
before I empty your fridge

Sunayna Pal was born and raised in Mumbai, India and now resides in Maryland with her family. She made her literary debut with her book of poems “Refugees in Their Own Country” (B&W Fountain), which explores the Partition of India. Her work has appeared in numerous international journals and anthologies.