In this evocative verse, Dr Jyothsnaphanija describes colours, carvings, fragrances, sounds and more – exclusively for Different Truths.

Some of us name the colour of pearls
As leaves.
Pink as the sky.
cranberries; the tangerine.
That finishing work
is soft as water under one’s feet.
In which year peacocks became too old to be carved?
Leaves hang out
Concentring the tiny birds.
Sky seals those golden branches.
They say it chain work.
 
Kitchens have no fragrances.
Scissors or forks
Looking alike, the silk thread is a plaything.
Lemons are sliced disproportionately
As a child, throwing off food.
Listening to some inconsistent dialogue from the earphone.
 
Making a square on a paper of cutting table.
Time is white quoted gold
Filling the pierced
Remembering one’s own name on the cake.
Now nobody talks about how many servings are left.
Listening to the unfinished,
Is that
carved artwork?

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Dr Jyothsnaphanija

Dr Jyothsnaphanija teaches English Literature at ARSD College (University of Delhi), India. Her first poetry collection Ceramic Evening was published in 2016. Her poems most recently have appeared and are forthcoming in The Handy, Uncapped Pen, Wishbone Words, The Hopper, Bosphorus Review of Books and others.

See Full Bio