half moon...
neither 'yes' nor 'no'
in her smile
neither 'yes' nor 'no'
in her smile
it all started (Tanka)
it all started
with a nagging rain
that slowed...
our words drowned out
in a cloudburst
with a nagging rain
that slowed...
our words drowned out
in a cloudburst
An hour away from Home (Tanka Sequence)
no longer
did she feel hunger or pain
only a voice
in her head chattered on
'an hour's walk more, just an hour'
braving thirst
and unsparing sun
they returned home...
all but little Makdam
she left for a land unknown
like a wind-up toy
she staggered and fell...
so near she came
so far she remained
an hour away from home
[A 12-year-old girl named Jamlo Makdam died after walking nearly 150 km from Telangana to her native district in Chhattisgarh, because of the extended nationwide lockdown to fight coronavirus. She worked in chilli fields to earn for her family.]
did she feel hunger or pain
only a voice
in her head chattered on
'an hour's walk more, just an hour'
braving thirst
and unsparing sun
they returned home...
all but little Makdam
she left for a land unknown
like a wind-up toy
she staggered and fell...
so near she came
so far she remained
an hour away from home
[A 12-year-old girl named Jamlo Makdam died after walking nearly 150 km from Telangana to her native district in Chhattisgarh, because of the extended nationwide lockdown to fight coronavirus. She worked in chilli fields to earn for her family.]
Tanka
born with a clubfoot
after a foggy night
in Bhopal,
she meets her end
on a foggy night in Vizag
after a foggy night
in Bhopal,
she meets her end
on a foggy night in Vizag
church pews
church pews
filled with photos
of absentees . . .
the melody resounds
'He is not here; He is risen.'
sharing (tanka)
sharing a kiss
through surgical masks
on a deserted highway
tasting love
amidst the hour of plague
through surgical masks
on a deserted highway
tasting love
amidst the hour of plague
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