Dr. Roopali speaks about mythical women and the big bad world with its many myths, in this poem, exclusively for Different Truths.
Eve Mother of mankind, God’s favourite child with her eyes full of mirth destined to rule the Earth. They say her sinful sight made the honeyed apple behold shining like mammon’s Gold. The slimy Serpent smiled when the beautiful Eve he spied In God’s kingdom wide. The wily creature watched as with pleasure she cried tasting the forbidden fruit guided by the satanic brute. The Tree of Knowledge showered its flowers filling Eden’s fragrant bowers. A dazzling new heaven opened its door a banished Eve stepped into the mighty world. Atlanta the fleet footed huntress worshipper of Artemis powerful daughter of God Minya strong and swift raised by a bear a woman indeed so rare. To keep her vow of virginity to preserve her female sovereignty she ran the race and lost her magic pace. Dropping golden apples In her path Blinding gold like the Sun crazed with love deceitful Melanion the invincible race he won. A boon from Aphrodite To set afire a woman’s hidden desire. Losing the race The huntress fell from grace the winner winning her to be his mate. Killer of the Calydonian boar Atlanta let passion soak the Temple floor. Cursed morphed into a fierce lion. She stepped into the mighty world. This great big world of experience and knowledge.
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Dr. Roopali Sircar Gaur is a poet, travel writer, and social justice activist. A former professor of English Literature at Delhi University, and a creative writing professor at IGNOU, she is a widely published academic and creative writer. Her book Twice Colonised: Women in African Literature, is a seminal text on women’s socio-political empowerment. In 2020-21, she co-edited two poetry anthologies – In All the Spaces: Diverse Voices in Global Women’s Poetry, and Earth Fire Water Wind.
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