No title

Draupathi

She lets a yawn

to wake her soul.

it had been damp

all night. monsoon.

she shakes her long body

to rid of layers of old skin

still clinging.

she doesn’t sleep, she can’t

when the thought of those five men

demanding to conquer her night after night after night.

blood trickles from her womb

how can she identify the father of her child?

too many seeds (were sown).

she shakes herself from old dreams.

her hair hasn’t felt the warmth of the blood.

she comes out of the forest,

her body trembles in the morning breeze

there is one thing that she can’t divest

her forsaken love for Karnan.

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Mother decided a name

even before you were born.

astrological calculations predicted

that you’d be strong and rebellious.

mother had unusual spasms

before that night.

she couldn’t bear the weight

of her womb anymore.

he wanted to come out rather soon and

father was reading the story of Karnan

by the glistening hurricane lamp.

outside world was cold and wet,

the rains were heavy this time.

mosquitoes were buzzing nonstop

so they had the neem smoke swirling

mother was in bliss

for

this was going to be her unforgettable child

who wouldn't be hers and 

would teach her how to fight.

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