Jayanta Mahapatra Wandering Yaksha of Poetry
Who is Jayanta Mahapatra? Is he “a sacred relic growing up with the helplessness and the generous tears”?...
In my city, I am surrounded by constant cries
of the dying, burning pyres heaving
under burden of wood, smoke and bones —
wailing summed up by sonic notes of Om.
Civilisation’s first sound—Sanskrit syllable
echoing a conch shell’s harmonic mapping —
This time, a brand-new darkness has made an appearance,
possessing a perturbing density, in such steady footing,
sheltering everything, even the visible things that were familiar
once, to all our appendages. She has transformed the known voices
which had, besides their own music, the sounds of imploding
possessing a perturbing density, in such steady footing,
sheltering everything, even the visible things that were familiar
once, to all our appendages. She has transformed the known voices
which had, besides their own music, the sounds of imploding
After rumbling threats
clouds will push up flowers
we will eat for a season.
Not so far away
coal will be mined afresh by rats
for the just-elected regime,
clouds will push up flowers
we will eat for a season.
Not so far away
coal will be mined afresh by rats
for the just-elected regime,
Sitting caused the death
Slouching in a flower Saurav has died because of its swaying
Because of startling bumblebees because of stealing the rainbow
In the fight for every inch in the sky Saurav has met his end
Saurav has met his end because of putting questions
Shivering on the rustling leaves at the height of darkness
Slouching in a flower Saurav has died because of its swaying
Because of startling bumblebees because of stealing the rainbow
In the fight for every inch in the sky Saurav has met his end
Saurav has met his end because of putting questions
Shivering on the rustling leaves at the height of darkness
Indivisible unity, Parvati and Shiva forever entwined
Women and men interdependent, infused with traits of each other
A softer left lineament draped in finery, a muscular right stretched over taut skin
Artistry overlaying a deep philosophy of a shared destiny
Women and men interdependent, infused with traits of each other
A softer left lineament draped in finery, a muscular right stretched over taut skin
Artistry overlaying a deep philosophy of a shared destiny
Always
my sister will repeat in anger
what Amma says more subtly: that I am to blame
for all that goes wrong
in the bedroom.
Everyday, in the bedroom...
my sister will repeat in anger
what Amma says more subtly: that I am to blame
for all that goes wrong
in the bedroom.
Everyday, in the bedroom...
Dawn is being swept away down melody’s stream.
Birds, tender leaves, grasses and pebbles
sing in response.
From far, far away, you, Mira Bai, are walking slowly
towards us with your heart-wrenched
devotional Brajabuli song steeped in...
Birds, tender leaves, grasses and pebbles
sing in response.
From far, far away, you, Mira Bai, are walking slowly
towards us with your heart-wrenched
devotional Brajabuli song steeped in...
FROM THE DESK OF ETHOS LITERARY JOURNAL
We are proud to launch Poetry India: Contemporary Poetry in English and Translation, a project that aims at curating poetry by Indian poets or poets of Indian origin. Although India claims to be the world's second-largest English-speaking country, according to the 2011 Census,...
Who touched and woke you up
Which hand bestowed you eyesight
Whose body you are departing from
Whose body you are leaping towards
Is it a dream or reality,
In the dark empty space...
Which hand bestowed you eyesight
Whose body you are departing from
Whose body you are leaping towards
Is it a dream or reality,
In the dark empty space...
After enduring a hundred blood tests, this time when you insert the needle, it’s not blood but a crescent moon that swells in the syringe. The stream that has silently flowed for so long, you place its slide under the microscope.
When I look into your eyes, I know you are an introvert guy
Your heart is burning with pain, the flames are shivering, and I
Can covertly see your eyes, full of introvert tears
Tell me whatever you want, for you I am all ears
Your heart is burning with pain, the flames are shivering, and I
Can covertly see your eyes, full of introvert tears
Tell me whatever you want, for you I am all ears