poetry – Page 7 – An anthropologist among the journalists

Testament of a hopelessly hopeful dreamer

I have left those paths behind. Those paths redolent of dreamy mornings When a half-awakened consciousness precluded hope. There were times when I turned to them, To where once a story that had begun in innocence Was sheathed in autumn leaves and slowly frozen to death. On one of those early mornings WhenContinue reading “Testament of a hopelessly hopeful dreamer”

Mortar and pestle

Thank you, Amma, for buying me a mortar and pestle when we went shopping one day, soon after my marriage. Among my vivid childhood memories are watching you pound that mixture of rice and skinned black gram, soaked overnight, on a large granite mortar placed on the floor of our house in Calcutta. Continue reading “Mortar and pestle”

Pottery lesson

The first lesson in making pottery Is: be willing to get your hands dirty. ‘Cos when you place that clay mound At the centre of the spinning-wheel, Then wet your palms to wrap them around, The slurry splatters on you. And at times, with fingers placed gently, As you drag and pull inwardly, The moundContinue reading “Pottery lesson”

Positano

Four feet, Two His, two mine, Stretched out facing the emerald sea, Against the winter sun. We were in Positano, By this breath-taking corniche, Where the shore stretched free, But for four, happy feet. Can you hear the silence of the sea? No one heard the silence of the sea. TheContinue reading “Positano”

Monotony

There are several ways to kill time during this quarantine.Like, doing dishes, and cooking meals, and taking care of the laundry.Are you disappointed with my suggestion?Then kindly consider this:That is how half of mankind every day lives.Yes, I mean the women. Take my mother, for instance.She was a tender ten when she started doing choresContinue reading “Monotony”