By V. Shruti Devi (quill-o-the-wisp)
A year in Kurupam
(written on 29th June, 2015, Kurupam)
The afternoon storm rolls in
as i type
into this laptop
on an antique marble round-table at which i sit everyday
facing the terrace
and the old repaired bloc
that i’ve written verse
on
in the context of fruit bats and ruins long ago.
And the hills and trees.
Struggles against quarrying, mining, land and rights:
Orchestras heard, reverberated
A continuum.
Greater focus now
on gender-justice
in socio-economic planning.
A thunder-clap just heard
as i declare
that one
has been here since forever
And also
since exactly a year ago from today
(coincidentally, last year’s Jagannath Rath Yatra date).
in the avatar
of Democratic Princess of the Palace
(alliterative, that, but also Fort).
(As compared to earlier postings:
-people’s princess; ambassador to delhi and elsewhere)
And so on!)
Surfing the tech n media wave
For all it’s worth
And perhaps
calling a few shots.
Here, mostly in solitary splendour
holding fort and connected.
That would’ve been the destination and envy
of many a monarch
that might’ve chased Empire
through the course of the history
of this planet.
Not amused
by subtle surveillance:
remote frequencies: sounds, odours, thought and dream
projections
reek
of pressures being exerted
on surrounding troupes
local factors, petty actors, no doubt.
Is this how a mansabdari system
talks to its Empress?
(One only approves
of direct, straightforward forthright communication
in the realm of direct communication
-even reality theatre should be Declared to be as such
Or it degenerates
into deceit).
Grim measures
-though nature’s treasures
compensate somewhat,
conjuring epic grandeur
from drudgery (ill-defined)
esp when thought of
in the light
of the masses.
This last bit
of reasoning
a narrative
with its own constraints.
A trick for the altruistic:
To calibrate the charisma
(esp when not in the running
for sainthood and the like).
Strike out, watch out,
a whistle’s a chant
-pierces though flutes,
wanders through stars.
...............................................
~poetry~
...to put today’s writing into another perspective, i share
with readers, a verse that i wrote in 1996:
KURUPAM – WAIT FOR ME (written on 5/4/1996 in New Delhi)
The earth, it moves so quickly now
And i’m so far away
The sun and night
They come and go
While winds of change blow through those trees.
Women and men
They also sway
Struck, perchance, by some global breeze....
“Waste no time but lead me there
There, to do as Nature decrees.”
[“Nay, tarry awhile
Perhaps there’s something here today
Which is why you’re here.
Here, so far away.”]
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