I AM

WOMEN OF INDIA:
FROM VEDIC TIMES TO TODAY

SURYAKANTHI TRIPATHI

A PHOTO EXHIBITION
5-8 MARCH 2010

INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

NEW DELHI

1
 THE VEDIC WOMAN

I AM LOPAMUDRA, GARGI AND MAITREYI

I AM APALA, GHOSHA, LILAVATI, SO MANY OTHERS

I, GARGI THE BRAHMAVADINI, I ASK

THE LAYER ABOVE THE SKY AND BELOW THE EARTH
DESCRIBED AS BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE SKY
SAID TO BE SYMBOL OF PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
WHERE IS THAT SITUATED?

I AM MAITREYI, I ASK
WHAT WILL I DO WITH LAND AND CATTLE?
WHAT WILL I DO WITH THAT
WHICH DOES NOT GIVE ME IMMORTALITY?

MY FATHER, BHASKARA ASKS ME, LILAVATI

“MATHEMATICIAN, SKILLED IN THE NET OF NUMBERS
QUICKLY, HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE THERE
WITH 2, 2, 1 AND 1, WHAT IS THEIR SUM?
SIMILARLY, MY LOVELY LILAVATI,
WITH 4, 8, 5, 5 AND 5.”

I AM THE WOMAN OF THE VEDAS

I ASK THE QUESTION, I DERIVE THE ANSWER
I AM STUDENT, SCHOLAR, SEEKER OF KNOWLEDGE

I AM SHE, I AM ME
I AM
_____________________________________

2
 PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN

THEY ASKED
IS THERE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN A ROCK?
YES, IRON, BECAUSE IT CAN CLEAVE ROCK.
IS THERE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN IRON?
YES, FIRE, BECAUSE IT CAN MELT IRON.
IS THERE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN FIRE?
YES, WATER, BECAUSE IT CAN PUT OUT FIRE.
IS THERE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN WATER?
YES, WIND, BECAUSE IT CAN SCATTER WATER.
IS THERE ANYTHING STRONGER THAN WIND?

YES, WAS THE ANSWER

A WOMAN

FOR THE WIND WAITS FOR A WOMAN’S WHISPER

KNOWING IT IS WOMAN
THAT GIVES THE BREATH OF LIFE.

I AM SHE, I AM ME
I AM

______________________________________

3
 ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM

WE MARCHED, WE RODE
WE WERE IMPRISONED, WE DIED
WE WORKED, WE NURSED, WE SACRIFICED
WE MURMUR IN THE NARRATIONS OF THE PAST
AND IN THE LIBERTY YOU INHALE IN THIS PRESENT

I SEE HER
RANI CHENNAMMA OF KITTUR
THIRTY THREE YEARS BEFORE 1857
OF THE FIRST TO RISE FOR FREEDOM
A FIGURE OF COURAGE AND OF A WOMAN’S PRIDE

I GLIMPSE HER
RANI LAXMIBAI, RANI OF JHANSI, A WHIRWIND
STORMING THROUGH ENEMY BARRICADES
I HEAR HER
MI MAJHI JHANSI NAAHI DENAAR
I SENSE HER
THE WARRIOR QUEEN, THE BRAVEST AND THE BEST
THE ICON OF AN INDIA FREE

I SEE HER TOO

SHE OF GREAT ENERGY AND ABILITY
RAJMATA BEGUM HAZRAT MAHAL OF AWADH
SEIZING LUCKNOW, MAKING HISTORY

SO MANY WOMEN, RISING AND UPRISING

I SEE THEM ALL, FOR I AM SHE OF KITTUR
OF JHANSI, OF AWADH, OF DELHI, OF BHARAT
I AM
___________________________________

4
 THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT

I AM BA, INDEPENDENT IN THOUGHT

A WOMAN OF CONVICTION, A FRIEND OF EFFORT
I, KASTRURBAI, TURNED TO KASTURBA
AS SATYAGRAHA TOOK SHAPE,
AS A NATION TOOK SHAPE
I BECAME BA
DETERMINED NEVER TO RELEASE STRUGGLE
TILL IT DELIVERED FREEDOM

I AM SAROJINI
I AM, IN ME, MANY
EACH ONE OF ME SOAKED IN INDIA
FIGHTING FOR HER FREEDOM
SPEAKING TO MAKE HER PEOPLE FEARLESS
WRITING TO MAKE HER CHILDREN PROUD
I AM SINCERITY OF MOTIVE,
COURAGE IN SPEECH, EARNESTNESS IN ACTION.

THEY CALL ME A FORCE NAMED DURGABAI

I AM MY SISTERS WITH MANY NAMES
I AM REACHING THEM, TEACHING THEM,
FOR WE ARE ALL SATYAGRAHIS
AHEAD OF US, NOTHING BUT OUR FLAG

WE ARE SATYAGRAHIS
MARCHING TO MAKE OUR OWN SALT
WE ARE ME, I AM US
I AM
_________________________________

5
 THE LABOUR OF LIFE

I AM NOT A STAR
THERE IS NO HALO OVER MY HEAD.
THEY DO NOT LIKE THE COLOUR OF MY TIRED SKIN,
STRUGGLE AND STRIFE ARE OLD FRIENDS OF MINE.

WHO AM I?

I AM SURVIVAL
I AM GUTS, I AM PRIDE.

THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST ME

BUT I KNOW THERE WILL COME A TIME
WHEN I WILL STARE THEM IN THE EYE.
AND SMILE THE SMILE OF THE ONE
WHO HAS PULLED IT OFF

I AM SHE
I WILL HAVE DEEP LINES ON MY FACE
AND I WILL LOOK GOOD, WHEN I LAUGH SOMEDAY

BECAUSE, THAT IS THE DAY I WILL FEAR NO FEAR.

AND TASTE SWEAT THAT IS SWEET
LOOK BACK FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AND SAY…
I DID IT
I DID IT MY WAY, THE LONG HARD WAY

I AM SHE
I AM
______________________________

6
 BREAKING STONES

I BREAK STONES
AND THEN I CARRY THEM
FROM THE QUARRY
TO THE LORRY

WE ALL CARRY STONES

STONES OF THE EARTH

OR STONES OF FEAR AND FEELING
STONES OF NEED AND WANT
STONES OF CUSTOM, CLASS AND OF CONVENTION
OF INIQUITY AND OF INTOLERANCE

BUT WE BREAK STONES

WE ALSO BREAK STONE WALLS

WE ARE STONE BREAKERS

I AM THEM, I AM ME
I AM

_________________________________________

7
 WHAT I MEAN

I BRING THE FARAWAY HORIZON NEAR

BECAUSE I SUMMON IT
I AM PROUD AND ERECT
FEET ON THE GROUND
UNAFRAID OF EFFORT AND DISTANCE
I AM FREE
I AM HERE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT A WOMAN MEANS

I AM LAUGHTER, I AM MUSIC
I AM YOUTH, I AM EXPERIENCE
I AM GRACE, I AM ENDURANCE
I AM THE STRIVING, I AM THE GOAL
I AM HUNGER, NOURISHMENT
I AM THE DEVOTEE, I AM THE DEVOTION
I AM SHAKTI

I AM SHE
FROM LOPAMUDRA TO INDIRA
FROM KASTURBA TO TEEJAN BAI
FROM SHE TO SHE
FROM CHANDBIBI TO BHIKAJI
FROM STONE-BREAKER TO STAR-GAZER
I AM SHE, I AM SHE
THE CHILD, THE MOTHER, THE LEADER
I AM THE WOMAN OF INDIA FROM ETERNITY TO ETERNITY

I AM HERE
FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT A WOMAN MEANS
I AM FREEDOM
I AM
__________________________________________

8
 MOTHER INDIA

I AM MOTHER TERESA
WITH THE CHILD IN MY ARMS
FOR I HAVE FOUND THE PARADOX
THAT IF YOU LOVE UNTIL IT HURTS
THERE CAN BE NO MORE HURT
BUT ONLY MORE LOVE

I AM THE MOTHER
EXULTING IN THE LOVE OF BEING MOTHER
FOR I AM BORN WITH THE CHILD
TO BE MOTHER

I AM SHE
BATHING MY LITTLE BROTHER
I AM SHE ON THE GHAT
FEEDING THE GOAT

I AM NARGIS, MADE IMMORTAL

IN PORTRAYING MOTHER INDIA

THEY SAY A GRAM OF MOTHER INDIA

IS MORE THAN A TON OF OTHER COUNSEL
SINCE SHE SPEAKS OF FREEDOM, OF EQUALITY
OF EFFORT, OF GRIT, OF PERSEVERANCE
OF COMPASSION

MOTHER INDIA GIVES ROOTS

MOTHER INDIA GIVES WINGS

I AM SHE, MOTHER INDIA, I AM ME

I AM
_____________________________________

9
 THE SAINT, THE MYSTIC, THE SEEKER

OH, THESE WOMEN OF INDIA

PEASANT, PRINCESS, WIFE OR DAUGHTER
COMMON WOMAN OF UNCOMMON LIGHT
A MYSTIC, A SEEKER OF THE DIVINE
GOD-ENGROSSED POET, SINGER, AND SAINT
IN GRAND VENERATION OF THAT, THE ULTIMATE

I NAME A FEW, I REVER YOU ALL

AVVAIYAR, ANDAL, MEERA BAI, AKKA MAHADEVI, LALDED
SARADA DEVI, MUKTABAI, SANGHAMITRA, SAINT ALPHONSA
MOTHER TERESA

AVVAIYAR, YOU ARE SAYING

WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED IS A MERE HANDFUL
WHAT YOU HAVEN’T IS THE SIZE OF THE WORLD.
MEERA BAI, I HEAR YOU SAY
I SIMPLY FOLLOW MY INCOMPREHENSIBLE ROAD.
A RAZOR-THIN PATH, BUT YOU MEET SOME GOOD PEOPLE,
A TERRIBLE PATH, BUT YOU HEAR A TRUE WORD.
AND YOU, LALDED, SAY
IF I CAN HEAR ONE CLEAR TRUTH, I'LL BE FORTUNATE.

YOU ARE THE WORLD OF COMPASSION

YOU ARE THE WOMAN IN PRAYER
YOU ARE THE PRAYER
YOU ARE THE WISH FULFILLED

I AM YOU, I AM ME
I AM THE SAINT, THE MYSTIC,
IN ME IS THE DIVINE POWER
I AM
_____________________________________

10
 THE WINGS OF A WOMAN

I SPREAD MY WINGS AND SOAR IN THE SKIES

AND GLIMPSE THE VASTNESS EVEN BEYOND
IT IS FOR YOU AS IT IS FOR ME
YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE WINGS
AND THAT IF YOU WANT TO FLY, YOU DO

I AM KALPANA
THE DREAM THAT FREEDOM ASPIRES TO
DARING AND DETERMINATION
DRAWN FROM THE SOIL OF INDIA
CARRIED ME INTO SPACE
AND IN THE RETINA OF MY EYE
THE WHOLE EARTH AND THE SKY WERE REFLECTED.

I RAN THE MARATHON IN SPACE

AS I CIRCLED EARTH
I AM SUNITA
BORDERS DO NOT DETERMINE MY LIFE
BECAUSE I AM WHAT MY FATHER SAID
THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF INDIA
WHO SAW THE COLOURS OF THIS LAND
SO SPECATAULAR FROM UP HIGH

I AM ALL THOSE
ALL THE PILOTS WHO HAVE FLOWN
EVEN BEFORE ENTERING THE COCKPIT

BECAUSE
TO HAVE FAITH IN ONESELF IS TO HAVE WINGS
I AM THE FAITH, I AM WOMAN
I AM
______________________________________

11
 RICH IN MUSIC

YOU ARE MS, KUNJAMMA, THE JEWEL OF INDIA

A VOICE OF PRIMEVAL RESONANCE
A LIFE OF TIMELESS FAITH AND INNER PEACE
YOU, WHO SANG RAMDHUN FOR GANDHIJI
YOU, HAILED AS "SUSWARALAKSHMI SUBBULAKSHMI,"
BY BADE GHULAM ALI KHAN
A KAARANAPIRAVI, BORN FOR A PURPOSE
YOU SING YES, BUT MORE, YOU MAKE DIVINITY MANIFEST
YOU ARE FOREVER
AND IN YOU, I AM.

TO YET ANOTHER GEM OF INDIA

YOUR VOICE HEARD IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS LAND
EYES FILLED UP WHEN YOU SANG
AYE MERE WATAN KE LOGON, ZARA AANKH ME BHAR LO PANI
YOU ARE LATA OF MATCHLESS RANGE AND TALENT
AND IN MY TRIBUTE TO YOU
IN THE CHERISHING OF YOUR LIFE’S SONG
I AM

YOUR MUSIC
HAS MADE THE BEAUTIFUL MORE ALIVE
IT HAS PEOPLED UNITY
I AM THE MILLIONS OF OUR MUSICIANS
SINGING THE SOUL OF THIS LAND
HENCE I AM IN YOU, IN A TRIBUTE TO ALL OF YOU
I AM
_________________________

12
 INDUSTRY AND COMMITMENT

I AM MILLIONS IN INDIA
SELLING FLOWERS IN FRONT OF TEMPLES
CARRYING VEGETABLES IN HEADLOADS FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE
WEAVING, SPINNING,
DISCOVERING NEW DRUGS, DESIGNING CHIPS

I AM OF THESE MILLIONS
INDRA NOOYI WHO STROVE
FOR THE WORLD TO HEAR MY VOICE
WHO AIMED HIGH AND PUT MY HEART INTO IT.
I PUT MY HAND UP SAYING, ABLE BODY, READY TO WORK
I CAN SCRUB FLOORS AND ADDRESS BIG ISSUES

I AM OF THESE MILLIONS
PROUD TO BE SELF-MADE, KIRAN MAZUMDAR-SHAW
THERE IS SO MUCH LEARNING ALWAYS TO BE DONE
FOR I WANT MOST TO BE AN INNOVATOR
SO THAT THROUGH THE SCIENCE OF LIFE
I CAN SAVE LIFE
THAT IS THE EXCITEMENT, THAT THE CHALLENGE.

I AM MILLIONS IN INDIA GROWING FOOD

WORKING WITH MEDICINES, TEXTILES, CHEMICALS,
STEEL AND SOFTWARE
MAKING OR SELLING EVERY PRODUCT
IN VILLAGES, TOWNS AND CITIES
WE ARE THE INDUSTRY OF INDIA
ELEVATING LIFE BY CONSCIOUS ENDEAVOUR
BY US IS THE WOMAN OF INDIA SO GREATLY VISIBLE

WE ARE, I AM
__________________________

13
 YOU WRITE FOR ME TO KNOW MYSELF

SO MUCH TO WRITE
SO MUCH TO NARRATE
SO MANY TO CHALLENGE
SO MANY TO AWAKEN
BY EACH OF US
YOU HAVE SHOWN ME HOW
TILL I AM CONFIDENT
I AM THE WRITER
I AM

YOU ARE ASHAPOORNA DEVI

AND WRITE
ABOUT SO MANY OF ME, EACH DIFFERENT FROM ME
YOU ARE MAHADEVI VERMA
YOU WRITE
ABOUT SO MANY OF ME, EACH INSPIRED BY ME
YOU ARE ISMAT CHUGHTAI
AND WRITE
ABOUT SO MANY OF ME, EACH DIVIDED FROM ME

I READ YOU AND I KNOW MYSELF

AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE ME

SO MUCH YOU WRITE

SO MUCH YOU NARRATE
BECAUSE EVERY WOMAN IS A STORYTELLER
EVERY WOMAN IS A STORY MAKER
EVERY WOMAN IS ME
I AM
_________________________

14
 EARTH COLOURS

THE STROKE OF THE BRUSH

THAT CHANGES FROM CRIMSON TO OCHRE
EACH OF THOSE A COLOUR YOU HAVE MIXED
BY GRINDING EXUBERANCE
WITH A LITTLE OF YOURSELF
IN THE HOLLOW OF THE MORTAR

AMRITA SHERGILL
WITH HER VERSES ON WOMEN
IS NONE OTHER THAN JAMUNA DEVI
MAKING PORTRAITS OF THE GODS
YOU ARE EVERY ARTIST OF WORLI
OF ALL MY VILLAGES AND OF MADHUBANI
EVERY ARTIST IS AMRITA SHERGILL
IS ME

I PAINT A WALL OF MY HOME

I PAINT A CANVAS
THAT HANGS ON YOUR WALL
I PAINT MY DOORSTEP, MY THRESHOLD
GIVE LIFE ITS SO MANY HUES

ALL THESE COLOURS

TONES OF THE EARTH
TRANSMUTED BY THE BRUSH
OF WOMEN WHO DEPICT
AN EPIC AS SPLENDIDLY AS AN ORDINARY LIFE
ALL OF THEM, ME
I AM
________________________________________________

15
 PURSUIT OF PERFORMANCE

WHERE SOME WOULD BREAK

YOU BREAK A LIMIT
YOU COMPETE WITH YOURSELF OF YESTERDAY
SO THAT YOU MAY, TODAY
COMPETE BETTER WITH THE WORLD
FOR WHAT EXISTS BUT STRIVING?

YOU ARE P.T. USHA

OUR QUEEN OF TRACK AND FIELD
YOU ARE OUR SANIA MIRZA
OF RECORDS AND RESOLVE
YOU ARE OUR BACHENDRI
SALUTING THE LAND FROM THE HIMALAYAN PEAK
PROVING MOUNTAINS ARE MEANT FOR SCALING
YOU ARE OUR YOUNG GRANDMASTER HUMPY
SEE A GOOD MOVE, BUT LOOK FOR A BETTER ONE
YOU ARE YOU AND ALL THOSE OTHERS
TELLING ME
WORKING WILL WIN WHERE WISHING WILL NOT

THE STRETCH OF YOUR SPIRIT

OF YOUR FORTITUDE AND GRIT
MAKE ME PROUD
MAKE ME TALL
BECAUSE OF YOU, I CAN CONTEST
I AM CONFIDENT
I AM
______________________________________

16
 THE COURAGE TO CHALLENGE

PRITILATA, YOUNG AND FEARLESS

LIFE GIFTED AWAY AT TWENTY
FOR FREEDOM

ARUNA ASAF ALI

UNFURLED THE FLAG OF QUIT INDIA
AGAINST THE MIGHT OF EMPIRE

RANI GAIDINLIU
INDOMITABLE RANI OF THE NAGAS
A FIGHTER FOR FREEDOM
FOR UNITY, FOR DIGNITY, FOR DEMOCRACY

BHIKAJI CAMA
FIRST RAISED THE PROUD FLAG OF INDIA
ON A FOREIGN LAND

CAPTAIN LAKSHMI SAHGAL

COMMANDER OF A FAMED REGIMENT
YOUR LIFE A SAGA
FOR LIBERTY AND EQUALITY

ALL OF YOU
DRAPED IN HONOUR AND COURAGE
ACROSS WHAT WERE YOU WOVEN
WARP AND WOOF?

IN MY HOMAGE TO YOU
I KNOW I AM STRONGER THAN I THINK
BRAVER THAN I THINK I AM
I FIND THE REAL ME
I AM
______________________________________________

17
 LIFE FOR OTHERS

THEY SAY
GREAT THINGS ARE DONE
WHEN A WOMAN MEETS A MOUNTAIN
FOR FLOWERS ON THE PEAKS
COME ONLY THROUGH THE ROCKS

SO MANY WOMEN IN THIS, OUR LAND

STRIVING FOR ANOTHER
LIKE A MOTHER WHO IS DELIVERED
FROM THE WOMB OF HER OWN IMPULSE
SAYING I WILL SERVE YOUR FUTURE
BY GIVING MY ALL TO THE PRESENT

ANNIE BESANT
BECAUSE OUR NATIONALISM IS HERS
AND OUR FREEDOM EQUALLY HERS

DURGABAI DESHMUKH
VOLUNTEERING FOR HER WHO IS NEEDY
AND FOR THE CHILD CHALLENGED

ELABEN BHATT
SEWA FOR THE DIGNITY
OF THE WOMEN ALWAYS AT WORK

YOU ALL ACT

BECAUSE ACTION IS THE ONLY MEDIUM
OF A LIFE LIVED FOR OTHERS

I AM NOW WALKING TOWARDS THE LIGHT

I AM, BECAUSE YOU ARE
I AM
_______________________________________________

18
 WOMEN OF WILL

YOU, WITH THE MOST POWERFUL ATTRIBUTE

A SOUL ON FIRE

RAZIA, SULTAN OF DELHI

FIRST QUEEN OF THIS CAPITAL
TRAINED TO LEAD ARMIES
BELIEVING THE SPIRIT OF RELIGION
IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ITS PARTS

CHAND BIBI
SINGER, PAINTER, WARRIOR
RESOLUTE DEFENDER OF AHMEDNAGAR

NUR JEHAN
AN EMPEROR’S CONSORT
DETERMINED AND ABLE TO RULE THE EMPIRE

AHILYABAI HOLKAR
THE GREAT QUEEN OF INDORE
A RULER, A FIGHTER, A BUILDER
WOMAN OF INTEGRITY, WISDOM AND VIRTUE

YOU ARE EXAMPLES ACROSS CENTURIES

YOU WHO REFUSE TO BE AVERAGE
YOUR DETERMINATION AWAKENS MY WILL
AND HENCE
I AM
_______________________________________________

19
 A STAGE MADE BY A WOMAN

ALL THIS LAND IS A STAGE

CONDUCTED BY A WOMAN
A STAGE OF MUSIC, DANCE AND SONG
OF ACTING AND ENACTING

A WOMAN, THE ESSENCE OF VIVACITY

ALIVE IN TRADITION, THE FOLK, THE MODERN
TELLING THE TRUTH THROUGH THE MAKE-BELIEVE

RUKMINI DEVI ARUNDALE

YOU REVIVED OUR HERITAGE, OUR PRIDE
AND OUR DANCE REGAINED ITS FADING RHYTHM
TO ENCHANT ALL OF HUMANITY

GANGUBAI, LOSING THE SINGER IN THE SONG

AND FINDING GOD IN THE PAUSE
MOHORDI OF THE GOLDEN VOICE HERE
BEGUM AKHTAR, MALLIKA-E-GHAZAL THERE
TEEJAN BAI, INIMITABLE
THE ABANDON OF TRUE NARRATION
OF LIFE AND LEGEND

BRILLIANT LIGHTS OF CINEMA

DEVIKA RANI, SUCHITRA SEN
THE IRREPRESSIBLE URGING OF NADIRA
MUDH MUDH KE NA DEKH, MUDH MUDH KE
ALL UNFORGETTABLE

ON THIS STAGE MADE BY A WOMAN

I TOO LEARN TO SING AND DANCE
I AM CREATIVE, I AM LIBERATED
I AM
_______________________________________________

20
 WEAVERS OF THE SUN

YOU HAVE MADE FOR ME

A RICH FABRIC OF INSPIRATION
EVERY THREAD AND EACH COLOUR
MAKING THE TEXTURE WHOLE
AND I GAZE AT THIS FABRIC
GLORIOUS IN ITS DESIGN
WOVEN BY THE WOMEN WHO ARE ME

YOU PLANT A TREE

TAKE A PHOTO, FEED A CALF
ROUSE A NATION
YOU ASK, YOU ANSWER
PLANT A SONG IN MY HEART
SUMMON DIVINITY
UNFURL A FLAG, GO TO JAIL
YOU WRITE, PAINT, RACE
GIVE LIFE, GIVE UP YOUR OWN

I SEE YOU ALL

WEAVERS OF AIR AND WATER
WEAVERS OF EARTH

WEAVERS OF THE SUN

BEARERS OF THE INFINITE
IN THE LIGHT YOU POUR ON ME
I SEE MY PATH BRIGHT
I WILL BECOME
I AM
_________________________________

21
 YOU OPEN YOUR VEIN

WITH THE PEN

UNMASKING PREJUDICE AND INIQUITY
ANGUISH AND SOLITUDE
WRITING THE UNWRITTEN BOOK
AS PAYMENT TO LIBERTY

MAHASWETA DEVI
YOUR EACH BOOK A LIBRARY
CARRYING THE TORMENT OF THE UNHEARD
QURRATULAIN HYDER
VOICE OF EVERY CENTURY
THAT CROSSES A RIVER OF FIRE
INDIRA GOSWAMI
MINING THE EXTRAORDINARY
IN THE ANECDOTE OF THE USUAL
YOU ALL CREATE WORDS
FOR ME TO LIVE IN
SAYING WHAT I AM UNABLE TO SAY

YOU GIVE ME SO MANY HOMES

SO MANY LIVES
SO MANY JOURNEYS WITH YOU

EVERY PAGE YOU WRITE

I SEE YOU OPEN YOUR VEIN
THAT RED, IT PULLS ME
I AM WITH YOU
I AM

22