Today, I have a string of haiku that I wrote over the last few days for a challenge on Facebook in addition to the syllabic poetry I wrote for the Tanka Tuesday challenge.
But before all of that there’s a poem that got published by Silverbirch Press, a few days ago. I had sent it to them many months ago and thought they had forgotten about it, so their email with the publication link came as a beautiful surprise. You can read my poem, ‘Kitchen Spices’ by clicking on this link. Here are a few stanzas-
The first time I tried to cook, I stared at my fingers
Then, I conjured Amma up—she in her starched cotton sari
Sitting on the kottemane her sari raised to the knee
Her legs parted on either side of the oralu kallu*
Mamma cooked well
But I liked Amma’s better
So what if she made only the local cuisine
Unlike Mamma, who could whip up a multicuisine feast at the drop of a hat.
Now for the Tanka Tuesday challenge hosted by Colleen Chesebro. I’m going to try writing the Abhanga this week. ‘Abhanga is the original name given to a saint’s devotional poetry in the state of Maharashtra in India. The poet was Sant Tukaram. Abhanga are form are written in any number of 4-line stanzas with 6-6-6-4 syllables each. L2 and L3 rhyme.’ I used ‘Spring thaw’ as my kigo word. It could be replaced with Falgun which is a regional word for Spring and is celebrated in Bangladesh.
Pohela Falgun
Yellow blooms walk the street
Winds cradle melodies
fragrant with marigolds
Spring thaw (falgun*) welcomed
*Falgun – is the season of Spring in Dhaka.
People celebrate Pohela Falgun or the first month of Spring in Dhaka by dressing in shades of yellow and orange with flowers on their (women) hair. Cultural events are held around the city during this time. It’s quite a beautiful time in Dhaka. I’ve never seen the advent of a season being celebrated with so much love and gusto by one and all. I wish I could have shared more pictures of the celebrations but I’ve been stuck at home with the flu.
If you have some time then here are the haikus I had written for a challenge on Fb
Day 1:
Heavens in blue smile
Rose of Sharon flaunts her robes
Spring is at the door
@SmithaV
Day 2:
Winter’s on the threshold.
Spring, too. One’s entering, and the
other, leaving. Like you.
@SmithaV
Day 3
Throat aches. Eyes water.
Symptoms of the common cold
Or an empty nest?
@SmithaV
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