Sonali’s poem explores the ocean’s depths and mysteries, revealing a mysterious shore scene before returning to the sea, exclusively for Different Truths.

shifting banks
stinging stones
my feet are submerged
I’ll walk on hands

trees turn yellow
as the sea turns green
my hair floats free
stings my skin like a dream,
I begin to believe in mermaids.
I go in further. dip my being
in the womb of the ocean
hands of time move somewhere,
my teeth begin to chatter
and there is an emptying out of people
from the vast waters
upon returning, a rebirth
waves cradle my sunless, breathless feet
deck them in officious pinstripes
on a holiday evening
I break out in laughter
each limb now hungers
to suckle the bleeding beast that sets
into the brewing vat of purple dye
like a stealthy fox from a story
heard long before
so, I don’t recognise
it when night comes.
words are interruptions–
droppings of birds flying home.
I may as well have swallowed the sun.
I dare not speak
only breathe,
my heart is a bird
aflutter
my body
ablaze
at sea.

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Dr Sonali Pattnaik

Dr Sonali Pattnaik is an award-winning poet, academic, educator and visual artist from India. who has a PhD in English and has taught for over twenty years at Delhi, Mumbai, and Gujarat University. Her debut book of poetry, ‘when the flowers begin to speak’, was published by Writers Workshop. Her art and poetry have appeared in journals including, Muse India, Café Disenssus, Setu, The Hong Kong Review and Fem Asia and several international print anthologies.

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