Sangeeta’s poem explores despair, hopelessness, and oppression, highlighting the danger of misogyny and the need to hold onto hope, exclusively for Different Truths.

In the icy world of despair,
I tried to ignite some flame in 
The tendrils of my heart,
And add a dash of flavour,
To brew some life.
BUT
To my surprise
I found rigid towers

That kept no door
For the fragrance of tranquillity to flow in
And soothe the torment
And ease the fury therein.

I managed to carry a fistful of hope,
When I was robbed
Of the light on that stormy shore,
When the fierceness of the tempest knitted
A veil of pitch-black curtain
Over me.

I stealthily managed to keep a fistful of hope
With the HOPE of layering it in
The crevices of my soul,
When the right time would knock at my door.
BUT
This time the gripping reality intrigues me
I was wrong in the perception that I could
Once again, celebrate my freedom.
And let the wings soar.
BUT
I couldn’t because the ties had been snapped
That leads the way to my heart,
I cannot build the bridges
Through the fortified tower,
Within which lies a whirlpool,
I watch helplessly as I see the tendrils of my heart
That nurtured life living essence, 
Are on the brink of drowning.
The regime of a misogynist domain
Has conquered my region.

I stand, knowing how
I am sneered at my precision and
All the delicate embroidered fancies, I weave.

The fistful of hope
Slowly escapes my hold
Will it ignite some spark somewhere?

Once again, I frantically
Throw a pale look
With a dim yearning.

Picture design, Anumita Roy

Sangeeta Dey Roy

Sangeeta Dey Roy is an author, poet, fiction, and non-fiction essayist who has been published widely in several magazines, souvenirs, newspapers including The Assam Tribune and Telegraph, national and international anthologies and co-edited a few magazines and the anthology named,” Mystic Reveries”. Her debut book is a collection of 81 poems. She’ s a member of ispell and IPPL. She hails from Haflong, Assam and is a teacher by profession.