Wednesday 27 June 2012

She is there...


The fog of emotions lay still, impairing vision
the pungent smell of tearing layered skin;
 attachments hold tight, it’s a struggle,
tears of burning eyes, she is peeling onions
and cutting into bits, the pungency, a lenient pain
but not the peeling questions suppressed.
she prepares dishes, love and care sprinkled
the house is filled with her fragrance, she is lost
among sweet and sour dishes, clean and shiny rooms
tables, chairs, bed, shower, tumblers and stationary
her hues melted into everything.

She waits in the veranda, evening, birds flock together
she is waiting, her identity sweating in tension
her music, her art dripped through anxiety
each day, carbon copies of blank papers.

The house is full, kids, elders, pets
she is busy, no one knocked at her soul
no weeds ever grew, no cups ever broke
cloths stiff and straight, her soul lost.
She, no longer looks for her love,
among those files, mobiles, meetings
friendly chats, intimate messages
he is there, busy and thrilled.
her pillow and blanket were never shared,
no one ever knocked at her soul.

She is there, in rich, poor and middle class stories
in black and white profiles,
behind closed doors,
in tight faces with, eventually, no shift in moods.






30 comments:

  1. I'm no sure peeling onions is lenient pain, not in my experience *Grin* The invisible woman theme, the fact we do not know what is hidden in the hearts of others, that idea I really like.

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  2. :-)...is it so sever?....sometimes it is nothing, considered..it depends....and I added that 'considered'. Thank you so much.....

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  3. i love your writing! very evocative of a woman unfulfilled!

    thank you so much for participating at Poetry Jam!


    dani

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  4. Sreeja, your words convey so much in such few, beautiful words. A wonderful poem, indeed.

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    1. Thank you Sonia...this is indeed a honor...

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  5. sreeja this is really
    superb narration of every women :)
    i loved it...its soulful :)
    keep writing & smiling always!

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    1. Thank you Sowmya....for your thoughtful comment...

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  6. Layered with pain and too many emotions...very well done.

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  7. Sreeja, this is lovely. I've cried so much peeling onions too :)
    Did you know that the three word Wednesday words you've used are from last weeks prompt? The three words this week are different. Hamper, Pulverize, and taunt. Not sure if you scrolled down too far and missed the latest prompt.
    Loved this, very vivid and image filled.

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    1. :-)Thank you very much....double thanks...yes I really missed the new set of words.....I think we all cry peeling onions....naughty onions!

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  8. So poignant: "no one ever knocked at her soul". Interesting how, at the end, the person achieves "no shift in moods" - becoming accustomed to their fate.

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    1. Yes..I have seen many women who are this way...I can't even think.....I salute their perseverance with life....thank you so much...

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  9. This is so poignant, so very sad. I know women who live like that, men too. We all need knocks at the doors of our souls. We all need to remember to knock for each other, and to answer knocks when they come. I especially like the "peeling onions" analogy, all the layers which may or may not come off and the tears shed in the process.

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    1. Thank you so much Victoria....yes we must know to know others....

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  10. This is a sad poem ... I feel sorry for anyone who has never felt unabashed happiness and joy in his/her life (no one ever knocked at her soul) ... Well done.

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    1. Thank you Helen......I wish happiness be every ones cup of tea...

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  11. Sreeja, this is so sad yet beautiful. She exists in every class and every color. Her music and her art and the sweat and tears are vivid here. I hope that she spreads herself beyond the "sour and sweet dishes" and knocks at her own soul.

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    1. Yes Archana..I too wish..thank you so much

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  12. It's most damning when failure results! A pity she has to suffer! Great verse Sreeja!

    Hank

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    1. Thank you...let us hope education can play a better role for this...

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  13. Wow, Sreeja, this is one admirable wonderful and intense write. "No one ever knocked at her soul" says so very much. She seems in some ways like the universal woman. (Visiting from Poetry Jam)

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    1. Yes you are right...thank you so much.....

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  14. Thank you Loredana....many are there with total loneliness.....

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  15. Such poignancy and yearning, beautifully worded

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  16. ugh i feel her pain and emotion so clearly...very evocative write...you nailed the prompt at PJ this week...i can see her and know her...

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    1. Thank you so much for this appreciation....:-)

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  17. no one knocked at her soul

    She no longer looks for her love.

    UGH. Such a lonely image you bring to mind - splendidly written!

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