Reblogs – Chris Hall & Rashmi Buragohain

These two pieces clearly show the juxtaposition between a life which is freely chosen and one which is not.

You dance for us too by Chris Hall

We watch you dance in the sunlight 
admiring your graceful fluidity 
your total abandonment 
to your art. 

We watch you dance from our windows 
confined inside, with limbs 
no longer able 
to obey. 

That freedom, which once was ours 
lives on, as we watch 
while you dance 
for us too. 

Barely Ten by Rashmi Buragohain
Featured on Masticadores USA 3/31/22

She was barely ten 
When she had to take 
Those seven steps around the fire 
With weary eyes 

She was barely ten 
When she stepped in that house 
With a toy of a doll 
Clasped in her hands 

She was barely ten 
When her toy was forgotten 
Lying somewhere in a corner 
Covered with dust 

She was barely ten 
When the ladle became her life 
To feed them all, but none to ask, 
«Where is your morsel, dear?» 

Still Fighting

the daily battles
etch a sheen on my armor
as rights are ignored

the feminine they try to oppress
but nothing will hurl us back in time
our sharp tongues wound and silence our oppressors

like a moth to a flame, we’ll seduce them
the fabric of society will not fray 
when women are truly free

no more having to put our lives on the line
each of us seeks autonomy
history in the making is streaming

Calling all Female Indian Poets!!

I’m thrilled to share this news from my friend, Candice Louisa Daquin! She has made me aware that she has the pleasure of working with a new publishing company who will be publishing an anthology of Indian Female Poets writing in English beginning later this year. This is in response to the powerful movement toward emancipation and equality by Indian women. And how despite this, they are still having to face issues around inequality, sexual identity, LGBTQ, family violence, overcoming oppression, sexual assault survival and gender identity. This anthology will highlighting the fight for equality Indian women are experiencing, it hopes to help bring awareness to the rest of the world and celebrate the talent of Indian women writing poetry in English.

If you are an Indian female poet and are interested, please email Candice (candicedaquin@gmail.com) There are so many talented female Indian poets I follow on WP, I hope to see you participate! It would be awesome!

Thank you!

Reblog – Furious She by Kritika

From the beginning of humanity, the expression of emotions has driven the poets in our world to write from their hearts. IMO, this piece captures the oppression of women well and the ultimate futility of it as we will always rise. ❤

that bird

Illustration by Kritika

the blue ink will spill
her hands untied will write
she will not let it go
until she empties herself from inside

@ Kritika

Stitching her mouth would not sew the thoughts inside the fissures, deliberately
created by this proud society in the form of her beloveds whom she once admired with respect.

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