An autobiographical poem, by Pankhuri, that deals with layers of problems, physical, emotional, and more. An exclusive for Different Truths.
Well, Tolstoy said The world’s made up of Happy and unhappy families Happy all alike Sad, sad for different reasons! But I think, happy are Happy for different reasons too! And, I think most families Are moderately happy Moderately sad Most families have those moments Of absolute joy, deep pleasure Pure happiness, wretched grief Troubling sorrow, piercing pain That dark corner in the bygone lane From where they wish to shun the world And themselves! Erase memory! Yet, enigmas knock Questions scream Answers clamour Points elude But nothing will ever explain His turning of tides Turning of charges A physical limitation An erection disability Onto his new bride! And yet, the man continues to find Total support and most of all in women In their endless talk of working And financial self-sufficiency Like that was the end to all problems! In a freshly migrated country where all Do not even have a work permit? But just that wife’s visa! Lovely, isn’t it? But where another compatriot wife Inserts herself on the very next day With tips and mantras on happiness Home decorating and husband pleasing Baby making and in-laws handling! Inserts herself to the extent That becomes a role model For sex, nicer in the context for love making! Becomes a sort-of model wife Husband-worshipping, homebound Is cited first as a sexually active wife This woman, from a historic Indian town Who has never been out of father’s home before marriage Never lived alone for study or work Almost as a reason, motivation to consummate A year-long unconsummated marriage After I am involved in an affair, Which too god knows is going where? All in a foreign land, on a visa Attached to the same husband Who was once, such a devoted, doting lover! And left me aghast hiding, manipulating All talk around his erection disability Into domination, wife subjugation!
Visual by Different Truths
Pankhuri Sinha is a bilingual Indian poet and writer. Ten anthologies published, other than many journals, anthologies, home and abroad. Won many prestigious, national-international awards, including the Seemapuri Times Rajeev Gandhi Excellence award, awards in Chekhov festival in Yalta and in Premio Besio Poetry competition in Italy, Sahitto award in Bangladesh, and Premio Galateo in Italy for poetry in mother tongue. Also, awarded by Albania, Nigeria, Romania, etc. Translated in 26 languages.
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