Poem
Mamta Sagar
Talking About Dharma/Adharma
hara hara mahadeva!shouts from throats filled with poison
rend these bodies
poison in the throat
seeps into the vein,
poison of the mind
renders the body blue
blue poison spreads across the sky
turns the corals and pearls in the ocean’s depth blue
this is the time
the cradle of death swings with a lullaby
laa . . . laa . . . la lullaby
child, take care –
the butcher’s knife glistens
in the pool of flesh and blood
just two inches below the navel
sharpness slits through
even before the scream is out
manhood is proved and achieved
The breast, the vagina,
breast-milk, the monthly
flow of blood – have all
different meanings
in the politics of dharma
here, hands, feet, head, torso,
love, affection, sorrow
are all soaked in blood
a wink of sleep for the pain
a tear or two for the hated
a little compassion in the heart
that is dharma.
© Translation: 2006, Chitra Panikkar and Mamta Sagar
From: Agenda Journal
Publisher: Agenda, Durban, 2006
From: Agenda Journal
Publisher: Agenda, Durban, 2006
The year 2002 saw the worst of communal clashes in modern Indian history, perhaps, next only to those witnessed during the days of partition. These communal riots were triggered by the Hindu fundamentalist/political organisations in Godhra (Gujarat) India in 2002. Most of the victims were women who were dragged out of their homes, gang raped, then murdered. No period in history marks the kind of butchery that was displayed against women. Innocent people from both Muslim and Hindu communities suffered. The poem came as a response condemning the communal violence.
TALKING ABOUT DHARMA/ADHARMA
© 2007, Mamta Sagar
From: Hiige HaaLeya Meile HaaDu
Publisher: Abhinava Prakashana, Bangalore
From: Hiige HaaLeya Meile HaaDu
Publisher: Abhinava Prakashana, Bangalore
Poems
Poems of Mamta Sagar
Close
Talking About Dharma/Adharma
hara hara mahadeva!shouts from throats filled with poison
rend these bodies
poison in the throat
seeps into the vein,
poison of the mind
renders the body blue
blue poison spreads across the sky
turns the corals and pearls in the ocean’s depth blue
this is the time
the cradle of death swings with a lullaby
laa . . . laa . . . la lullaby
child, take care –
the butcher’s knife glistens
in the pool of flesh and blood
just two inches below the navel
sharpness slits through
even before the scream is out
manhood is proved and achieved
The breast, the vagina,
breast-milk, the monthly
flow of blood – have all
different meanings
in the politics of dharma
here, hands, feet, head, torso,
love, affection, sorrow
are all soaked in blood
a wink of sleep for the pain
a tear or two for the hated
a little compassion in the heart
that is dharma.
© 2006, Chitra Panikkar and Mamta Sagar
From: Agenda Journal
Publisher: 2006, Agenda, Durban
From: Agenda Journal
Publisher: 2006, Agenda, Durban
The year 2002 saw the worst of communal clashes in modern Indian history, perhaps, next only to those witnessed during the days of partition. These communal riots were triggered by the Hindu fundamentalist/political organisations in Godhra (Gujarat) India in 2002. Most of the victims were women who were dragged out of their homes, gang raped, then murdered. No period in history marks the kind of butchery that was displayed against women. Innocent people from both Muslim and Hindu communities suffered. The poem came as a response condemning the communal violence.
Talking About Dharma/Adharma
hara hara mahadeva!shouts from throats filled with poison
rend these bodies
poison in the throat
seeps into the vein,
poison of the mind
renders the body blue
blue poison spreads across the sky
turns the corals and pearls in the ocean’s depth blue
this is the time
the cradle of death swings with a lullaby
laa . . . laa . . . la lullaby
child, take care –
the butcher’s knife glistens
in the pool of flesh and blood
just two inches below the navel
sharpness slits through
even before the scream is out
manhood is proved and achieved
The breast, the vagina,
breast-milk, the monthly
flow of blood – have all
different meanings
in the politics of dharma
here, hands, feet, head, torso,
love, affection, sorrow
are all soaked in blood
a wink of sleep for the pain
a tear or two for the hated
a little compassion in the heart
that is dharma.
© 2006, Chitra Panikkar and Mamta Sagar
From: Agenda Journal
Publisher: 2006, Agenda, Durban
From: Agenda Journal
Publisher: 2006, Agenda, Durban
The year 2002 saw the worst of communal clashes in modern Indian history, perhaps, next only to those witnessed during the days of partition. These communal riots were triggered by the Hindu fundamentalist/political organisations in Godhra (Gujarat) India in 2002. Most of the victims were women who were dragged out of their homes, gang raped, then murdered. No period in history marks the kind of butchery that was displayed against women. Innocent people from both Muslim and Hindu communities suffered. The poem came as a response condemning the communal violence.
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