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Rebellion and Romanticism
The night in its limitless darkness a black hole engulfing all thoughts The picture of James Dean on the table, apparently, a symbol for flagrant rebellion The clothes yet to be ironed yet to be washed scattered on the floor, that we walk on the rug eaten by many winters The arena for some poetry…
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The Uterus Inheritance
I remember the Ambassador rides from Bhubaneswar to CuttackYour tussar sari draped around your shoulderAt home you would read files, make notes“It is tough being a woman Secretary of Industries”You had endometriosis A fresh incision on an arterial veinNever did you take a day off,Never did anyone find out In Raghurajpur they had an exhibition of handicraftsYou…
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The Last Post of 2018 – a ghazal
I asked him what should my last post be year end He said, reflecting creatively on the year end How boring, no? All year you follow and watch, still on YouTube, endless rewinds declaring the year end I started work in diversity, submitted my thesis, Going to mentor, gearing up at the year end Revolution…
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Home – a ghazal
That time of the year when people are heading home A glittering tree, boxes with bows, welcoming you home She stayed back in the hostel This girl from the East, she was not returning home I wish you could see starlings during murmuration, flying home She begged for that stamp on her card No, she…
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An Open Letter to Ravan on Vijayadashami
Dear Ravan, You of ten heads, master of six shastras and four vedas, blessed by Shiva, with twenty eyes and two hands you rampaged, but today is the tenth day Ravan, your name, the scream, roaring your ability to silence The louder you got the bolder I became Here, let me undress myself, I will…
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Slow cooked realisation
Last month I realised my son Age 11, is almost as tall as me His feet, now, bigger than mine his hands wrap around my fingers Once curled in the nook of my arm he did not even reach in length from my wrist to elbow Now as his long body leans by my side…
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Face Reveal – a Half-Ghazal
Face Reveal – a Half-Ghazal My son, age 10, is into Rumi, and his face reveal The Youtuber who does voices, and HowToBasic’s face reveal Rumi the murid to murshid Shams He whispered, away from all, I will make my face reveal Trust is built brick by brick, layer over layer Till, one day, the…
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Teaching the Ghazal in Class
Last week I was subbing at the Vrije Universteit for the Genre, Literature and Analysis class for the Bachelor First Year course. I was teaching the villanelle and ghazal, which involved aspects of the forms as well as close reading. I found myself in a room full of bright, intelligent, engaged, and wise students. They…
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Autumn Moments in Amsterdam, 2017 Edition
Fall, leaves, fall By Emily Bronte Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; Lengthen night and shorten day; Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree. I shall smile when wreaths of snow Blossom where the rose should grow; I shall sing when night’s decay Ushers in a drearier day. (Source: Poetry Foundation)…
