Rishra Snoozes

Would it be poetry?
To share my time capsule
Of memories?
Some haunting midnight walks
With my dear friend Tushki
Singing Mary Hopkins
Those were the days my friend...
How I wish now
That those days would
Never end.

Rounders at TT had me
Fall flat on the ground like lead
Vikram Malhotra
Thanks for your memorable phrase
"Amrita has crash landed..."
It still rings in my head.
And ever sweet and chivalrous khoka
(Now that's a toughie to rhyme!),
Lifting me gallantly to my feet
My face flaming red like beet.

Badminton court a noble hallowed
ground
Where the big boys cursed profusely
With words profound
Which we little girls
mimicked
Preening with self conscious pride
Growing a lexicon weird deep and wide.
(But it was very useful later in life.)

By public demand
Now I usher in LEMON RED
Nimbulal's nickname
Or so Rajuda said.
In khaki dour and neat brown beret
Pungent smile on sweet wizened face.

Swimming in the rain
With Tutul
Upon a time
Submerged summer evenings
Of sheer delight

Pulling a few legs
Underwater
Being chased by Big Fish
Diving deep down under.
Cartwheels turned in water
That now seem
like circus feats
So natural then
When we were
Slim and lithe...

I don't know if I should add any more
The risk too great, you guys might snore.

So let growing up days now go to bed,
In all our heads,  adieu,
Rishra snoozes silent in secret gardens
And in dimmed rooms, with dreamy views.

(c) Amrita Valan 2017

Driven to Death

For those with eyes to see

Driven to death

Insensitivity of kith and kin
Skin deep love
And jealousy within
Stunted parody of ill conceived man
Whose love can't embrace
Beyond own flesh and bone

Victim blaming is the winners' game
Sans kindness, hearts of cold
Hideous stone.

Godmothers, unloving, ungracious
To innocent sons
Dog mothers of rigid Dogma,
And narrow exclusions.

Sibilant sisters
who lay down antiquated law
Enforcing guilt on a foolish
Guillible man..
...
"Don't bring her to Church
She's Un-christian.
Get the boys
They're Ours, ours
Alone."

Half Christians, that too,
Only in name,
Accusations, unfair
Wept into basin of tears,
That my father
Is in waiting,
To change their names...
To make them propitiate
To Hindu Gods...
Who are, but of course!
Demons of the underworld.

Crying buckets of crocodile tears
While dimming the joy
Of precious childhood years
Of two little men who should verily be
The pride and joy
Of both families.

Love skin deep
Jealousy within
Pride envy avarice
Are your deadly sins.

A
Gentle reminder
Jesus was a Jew
And May I ask again,
Just who are you?

He honored the Samaritan
The Prodigal Son
You throw them out
With overbearing scorn.

He Condemned the rich
ALL you value is gold
He accepted the sinner
You would like to
Throw stones.

In God's mansion
Are many Rooms
Of requirements,
Religions,
With multitudinous views.
Cleanse your hearts.
And humble yourselves
To your God anew.

Driven  degraded by fear
I shed humiliation
In tears
This world is hard
Terribly hard to bear.

Tagging along everywhere
An unwelcome other
They should have hired surrogate wombs
And not a feeling mother.

Conspiring to humiliate
Pretending innocence
Dealing death blows
With congratulatory
Handshakes.

Driven degraded
Deserving DEATH
Life is taboo
When you are
A child of Fate.

The skies forever calling.
Forever death defying blue
I hear my sisters
I hear them true.

Weaving words of love
From highest truths above
But
My hapless sons
Keep me anchored
To unfeeling earth.

I can't read
I can't teach
I can't sleep
I must weep
For the death
I can't find
And the life
I can't keep.

My soul keening
To fly above
Lingers lifelessly enmeshed
In this desolate gourd.

Wily men and
Women of strange
perverse desire

In the lives of others
To stroke hellfire

Driven to death
By puny stunted man
I will fly away
Into deathless skies
Harmed by none.

I will fly away
To true sisters
Wielding wands
Of healing words
May God grant
This woman
Her last reward.

(c) Amrita Valan 2017