Is it pathetic that I weepTo have found a God who listened?If this wasn't proof then what was,A brand new Hawkins pressure cooker gasket.Although perhaps it was a goddess who would understandThe horror of looking at steam escaping impotently from the sides of the cooker.It has to be divine intervention,For I have never demonstrated this [...]
The Spear-Shield Paradox
There is an old paradox, ‘Irresistible force meets immovable object’. The earliest mention of this paradox appears in 3rd century, BCE Chinese philosophical book Han Feizi where it's called the spear and shield paradox, what would happen if a spear that can cut through any shield meets a shield that can resist any weapon.In Greek [...]
Isolation
A brother dying ofMetastatic cancer in the ICU,Can't say goodbye.Not even through the porthole windows.Corona cruelly punishes you for things that you will punish yourself for all eternity,For not having the time to call, sorry was travelling.For not being the first to apologise, he started it.For missing out on birthdays, it's just the 44th, not [...]
Shaheen
Did you know that falconry is an ancient celebrated sport? The Peregrine Falcon, that majestic queen of the skies is trapped and captured and trained to hunt for the falconer. In turn the falconer generously shares scraps from the falcon's kill with her. It works best if she is kept slightly hungry, always yearning for [...]
Hands that wear bangles
These are the hands that wear the bangles. On these hands does henna blossom. These are the hands that etch the rangoli. On these hands are small scars, burn marks from hot griddles upon which these hands roast rotis, mementos of passionate nights when bangles clinked and broke. These are the hands held up in [...]
Our Children
We turned the rain acid And kept them indoors with smartphones and tuitions. We drained the aquifers And taught them that water comes in tankers. Burnt the forests And gave them palm oil cosmetics to pretty themselves Poisoned the oceans and the land And gave them vitamin supplements We made air visible at AQI 600 [...]
A Prayer for/to Everywoman
I will fight great battles for me. And stain my hair with the blood of my oppressors. I will not wait for a hero to protect my modesty. For I am not a modest woman. I am loud and I take up space. I do not know shame nor guilt nor secrecy. I will walk [...]
