An evocative poem by Rituparna explores a maiden’s binaries of light and shadows – exclusively for Different Truths.

Fair-toned maiden, 
your feet never touch the ground.
Fair-toned maiden,
your airs of vanity glide on loose air.
Fair-toned maiden,
your pride bars you
from attaching to human values.
Fair-toned maiden,
Your enlightenment is shadowed in darkness.
Fair-toned maiden,
would you call this light?
Shady damsel,
your fingers dig out joy from commons.
Shady damsel,
your skittish heels dance with rippling water.
Shady damsel,
your softened humility is rooted in the soil. 
Shady damsel,
your dark-hued simplicity is glorified in a halo.
Shady damsel, 
would you call it darkness?

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Rituparna Khan

Rituparna Khan is an Assistant Professor in Geography at Bidhannagar College, Salt Lake, Kolkata. Her inclination to Literature, especially poetry is no less.  A few of her works are published and well appreciated and awarded in print as well as social media. Her first book, a collection of short stories, was launched at Kolkata International Book Fair, this year.