tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47897436127010726552024-03-13T23:03:56.231+05:30Stumbling StrokesArundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-77225030405693628602022-04-13T11:18:00.001+05:302022-04-13T12:04:05.130+05:30Questions<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFuo4T0shH5UPF5jciZXvUmgqcGXUdkje7jIYQs06fT2-l7tv7heJjgrVEOG96C4sshx_y27yZsV8wOSSRWAQhp3yKucbulQfNUI0BLIGMNpnBWxuGQe_98l1mVG2z0lyx9GohTviK3ST4cULSf5_brsxRS5mMa95d1OLEtreep57WbOTz7A_7Fzyjw/s1019/800px-Vincent_Willem_van_Gogh_037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="800" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFuo4T0shH5UPF5jciZXvUmgqcGXUdkje7jIYQs06fT2-l7tv7heJjgrVEOG96C4sshx_y27yZsV8wOSSRWAQhp3yKucbulQfNUI0BLIGMNpnBWxuGQe_98l1mVG2z0lyx9GohTviK3ST4cULSf5_brsxRS5mMa95d1OLEtreep57WbOTz7A_7Fzyjw/w233-h297/800px-Vincent_Willem_van_Gogh_037.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Prisoners' Round </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by Vincent van Gogh</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(1890)</div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Always the discomfort with questions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A booming sound, distant, distorted. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Me, a shifty dark room<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Closing in on itself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Like on a captor’s command<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I step out in the blinding sun<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Look up first and then down to my toes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Show up, speak up, account for my woes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A mad scramble<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For words and threads<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A patchwork robe<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To dodge the probe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Handy wear, held fast and close<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Eyes on the ground<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Grows heavier still<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">More robe than me, less me each round. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I wonder tonight<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When this term began<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The penal call<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The eyes downcast. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I wonder tonight<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If I could shrug off the robe<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Stretch an arm and pull it down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When right beside me</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">in the open ground<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I could ask perhaps if it would befriend me. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-11999770291484163272021-12-09T09:28:00.001+05:302021-12-09T09:28:30.522+05:30Aerial<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy31LRPHzmo/YbF2HOSQsfI/AAAAAAAAEqM/2ffC1fdqLhMGFDABjZkcZutEXS1NMooxwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Nocturne%2Bin%2BBlack%2Band%2BGold%2B-%2BFalling%2BRocket%2BWhistler%2B1875.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1541" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oy31LRPHzmo/YbF2HOSQsfI/AAAAAAAAEqM/2ffC1fdqLhMGFDABjZkcZutEXS1NMooxwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Nocturne%2Bin%2BBlack%2Band%2BGold%2B-%2BFalling%2BRocket%2BWhistler%2B1875.jpeg" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Nocturne in Black and Gold, Falling Rocket</i> (1875) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by James Abbott McNeill Whistler </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You stood before me </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Master of your art</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stood before you</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bewitched, gaping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With long slender fingers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You crafted for me</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whole worlds</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in a bubble.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of bubble,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">whole worlds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Believe me, when I say they were</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Worlds singing -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with tunes most tender</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luminous - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with daubs of thick paint</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soaring -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with words sprouting wings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, to hold them in my hands</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To press them to my ears</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To peer through them all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We levitated together,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These bubbles and I,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For several light years. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Who knew, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Did you?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">they would pop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each one,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">by </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With a shatter so sharp</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Strings cut </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I fall headlong</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Do you?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A dawdle of a fall</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With echoes of sweet bird and far-off song. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-31039024120959812482021-09-20T10:22:00.000+05:302021-09-20T10:22:08.342+05:30The clarity of silhouettes <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgeXbk6tDNs/YUgSnpvhelI/AAAAAAAAEn0/9InXAuqj9qM07aKVRgfhTG2Jq3G1SDm1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s490/Pablo%2BPicasso%2BThe%2BMilliner%2527s%2BWorkshop%2B1926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="490" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgeXbk6tDNs/YUgSnpvhelI/AAAAAAAAEn0/9InXAuqj9qM07aKVRgfhTG2Jq3G1SDm1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h216/Pablo%2BPicasso%2BThe%2BMilliner%2527s%2BWorkshop%2B1926.jpg" title="Milliner's Workshop by Pablo Picasso (1926)" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Milliner's Workshop</i> by Pablo Picasso (1926)</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">Oh, how
long our day,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">Now come
to a close. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">Oh, how
tired these eyes,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">From
your saturated tones.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">Now the
lights switched off<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">Now the
colors drained out<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">Now my
dizzy slows down<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">Now such
silence abounds<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">Blindness,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">A wicked
specter of the mind,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">Trailing
me all day,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";">Exorcised
at midnight. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-60160229947637882132021-08-27T17:29:00.003+05:302021-08-27T18:18:58.944+05:30An Evening with Friends<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kj1Nr-4y7QM/YSjR_FM1kvI/AAAAAAAAEnA/JnJblSxb3PANrks2vkiJhuysDkD30SiKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1536/1200px-Anquetin_Avenue_de_Clichy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img alt="Avenue de Clichy by Louis Anquetin (1887)" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kj1Nr-4y7QM/YSjR_FM1kvI/AAAAAAAAEnA/JnJblSxb3PANrks2vkiJhuysDkD30SiKgCLcBGAsYHQ/w250-h320/1200px-Anquetin_Avenue_de_Clichy.jpg" width="250" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Avenue de Clichy</i> by Louis Anquetin (1887)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p></p><p>Night rush.</p><p>Faces, food, and frenzied fumbling</p><p>Masks half worn </p><p>and half undone. </p><p><br /></p><p>Night hush.</p><p>An uphill trod</p><p>Soles buckling underfeet</p><p>Each step lighter till finally set free. </p><p><br /></p><p>Night slush.</p><p>Word piled upon word</p><p>Some rehearsed, some drawn fresh</p><p>The poet's and ours. </p><p><br /></p><p>Night hush</p><p>Again.</p><p>And a wide open window</p><p>Nestled in the city, a party</p><p>Slivers of laughter floating our way. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-53097837098318620152020-08-19T12:32:00.001+05:302020-08-19T12:32:43.148+05:30In My Dreams<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-uYTkCKRrA/XzzMHmFpmKI/AAAAAAAAEYc/hwaQGyvA6NYTfqWfUAOfJjqgURK9vpmqACLcBGAsYHQ/s1567/F%25C3%25A9lix%2BVallotton%2BLa%2BValse%252C%2B1893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1567" data-original-width="1280" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-uYTkCKRrA/XzzMHmFpmKI/AAAAAAAAEYc/hwaQGyvA6NYTfqWfUAOfJjqgURK9vpmqACLcBGAsYHQ/w214-h262/F%25C3%25A9lix%2BVallotton%2BLa%2BValse%252C%2B1893.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The Waltz</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">by Felix Vallotton (1893)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br />The daggers drawn during the day,<br />Venomously tipped,<br />Rested in cushioned sheaths,<br />In my dreams.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">So easily we swam,<br />Across the chasm of silence,<br />Filled by moonlight,<br />With freshsweet streams.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Easy steps,<br />All in perfect time,<br />Can you believe?<br />We almost waltzed,<br />In my dreams.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Leaving the day behind,<br />With its many rough jibes,<br />We met in a world quite unknown,<br />In my dreams. </div>Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-3237971039602843472020-07-23T12:36:00.000+05:302020-07-23T12:36:07.939+05:30If You Ask Me, I'll Say<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LpRMXXa-b6g/Xxk1MUTLL4I/AAAAAAAAEWo/9ZR__IoaaLEHj9IuiS_XZf_K4_zS1_VNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/New%2BYork%2BMovie%2B1939%252C%2BEdward%2BHopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="620" height="257" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LpRMXXa-b6g/Xxk1MUTLL4I/AAAAAAAAEWo/9ZR__IoaaLEHj9IuiS_XZf_K4_zS1_VNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/New%2BYork%2BMovie%2B1939%252C%2BEdward%2BHopper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>New York Movie</i>, 1939 </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by Edward Hopper</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
To say the very thing<br />
One feels and thinks<br />
Is getting harder by the day.<br />
<br />
How does one say a thing,<br />
When chatter swirls within?<br />
An unruly cast<br />
Assembled at a reading deranged<br />
Flinging, singing, mumbling, screaming.<br />
<br />
If you insist too much<br />
Impatiently<br />
I could present to you<br />
a feeble show<br />
Strung together with<br />
Someone's sputtering opening<br />
A muddled middle<br />
And the wriggling tail of quite another.<br />
<br />
But if you ask again<br />
Sincerely<br />
I would have to tell you<br />
One cannot possibly say anything at all<br />
While waiting in the wings<br />
Of one's own cacophonous play<br />
Lips pursed<br />
And listening. </div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-40224043599669055762020-07-17T10:54:00.002+05:302020-07-17T10:54:46.963+05:30Last Night Arose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_rngMmKA2nY/XxEzpXrqHzI/AAAAAAAAEVY/ORb_Ktc_mckOiHspsvpjB4P08gnkb9NFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Head%2Bby%2BKarl%2BSchmidt-Rottluff%2B1915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="420" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_rngMmKA2nY/XxEzpXrqHzI/AAAAAAAAEVY/ORb_Ktc_mckOiHspsvpjB4P08gnkb9NFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Head%2Bby%2BKarl%2BSchmidt-Rottluff%2B1915.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Head</i> by Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1915)</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Last night arose<br />
Beneath my window<br />
A golden gleaming sun.<br />
<br />
Steady glare of the streetlight<br />
And a troupe of dancing rain<br />
A whirling expressionist woodcut<br />
Etched onto the tarmac plain.<br />
<br />
I watched transfixed<br />
As the sky raged<br />
And the tears began to swim.<br />
I watched transfixed<br />
And willed the glum fog<br />
Inside me to lift.<br />
<br />
But what warmth could I borrow?<br />
What light could I seek?<br />
What courage could I muster?<br />
From a pool of damp lies and dreams?<br />
<br />
To watch it transfixed<br />
With hope and patience<br />
And a quiet desperate might,<br />
Was only a weak trick<br />
To get through the black, black night. </div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-72691362153672265212019-12-11T09:12:00.000+05:302019-12-11T09:12:16.981+05:30Grief<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cUZByAXKbMk/XfBkKA-Sh-I/AAAAAAAAD-8/wLbOLBMS0zQyqiyM0KQtCTCOK4vTKu8jACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/workers-on-their-way-home-by-edvard-munch-1345574117_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="600" height="289" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cUZByAXKbMk/XfBkKA-Sh-I/AAAAAAAAD-8/wLbOLBMS0zQyqiyM0KQtCTCOK4vTKu8jACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/workers-on-their-way-home-by-edvard-munch-1345574117_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Workers on their Way Home</i>, 1913</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by Edvard Munch</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Grief, a solid rock<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lodged in the quarry’s pit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Immovable, unbreakable<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Coated with a thousand nights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Burrow around it all you like,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wander above for hours on end<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But one has to,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At the end of however distracted a day,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Clamber wearily down,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Down into that solitary cave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A cave so full,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Full of that stubborn solid rock<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lodged in your quarry’s pit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Letting no air in, no light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How many little people?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pressed against<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How many monstrous rocks?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A wretched underground orb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-50354317006069983222019-11-03T11:36:00.001+05:302019-11-03T11:36:41.468+05:30 खिड़कियां<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wiWyZD6XDEo/Xb5tFYO1S3I/AAAAAAAAD5s/qAfUKFoAGq8PP4p80vgpYDK-Y1ywImSnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Edward%2BHopper-Evening%2BWind%2B1921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="1600" height="286" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wiWyZD6XDEo/Xb5tFYO1S3I/AAAAAAAAD5s/qAfUKFoAGq8PP4p80vgpYDK-Y1ywImSnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Edward%2BHopper-Evening%2BWind%2B1921.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Evening Wind</i> by Edward Hopper (1921)</div>
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<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-size: 1em;">दीवार में खिड़की</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">खिड़की में रात</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">खिड़की की रात</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">दीवार से उजली।</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-size: 1em;">दीवार की रात</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">में भी एक खिड़की</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">फैली हुई विशाल</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">सिरहाने से लेकर</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">छत तक चढ़ आयी खिड़की।</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-size: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-size: 1em;">खुद परछाईं</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">पर चौगुनी खिड़की</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">हर कोने से खींची सी</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">भीतर इसके</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">और परछाइयां</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">पंखे की हौली धड़कन</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">और भागती हुई एक और छोटी सी खिड़की।</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-size: 1em;">रात घनी हो</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">दीवारें कई हों</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">पर खुलती रहें</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">ऐसी खिड़कियां</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">उजली सी</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">लहराती सी</span><br /><span style="font-size: 1em;">चारों ओर फैलती ब्रह्माण्ड सी।</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-size: 1em;"></span></div>
</div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-22260540839015886392019-09-14T22:12:00.001+05:302019-09-14T22:12:24.528+05:30Ghanshyam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTHrHYS-A_M/XX0VhJr_8HI/AAAAAAAAD0I/eR-RJTCp7es4x31l6gWGEMRPbgOTwK8VQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/kajri-scroll-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTHrHYS-A_M/XX0VhJr_8HI/AAAAAAAAD0I/eR-RJTCp7es4x31l6gWGEMRPbgOTwK8VQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/kajri-scroll-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Radha & Krishna Walking at Night</i></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Folio from the Tehri Garhwal series of the Gita Govind (1775-80)<br />Punjab Hills, Kingdom of Kangra or Guler</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Wept my eyes blue,<br />
Looking for Ghanshyam.<br />
I had him beside me<br />
And now he is gone.<br />
<br />
Standing at the crossroads,<br />
Squinting in the dark,<br />
I conjure blue shadows,<br />
Turning to mist, each one.<br />
<br />
Is he playing one of his tricks?<br />
Making my heart so sink?<br />
Am I abandoned for good?<br />
Or to follow him into the distant woods?<br />
<br />
Waiting at the crossroads,<br />
I think I will rest my tired blue eyes.<br />
Maybe as dawn breaks,<br />
I will find him once again,<br />
by my side.</div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-73894830317249253582019-08-11T13:59:00.002+05:302019-08-11T13:59:40.218+05:30A Dream?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1ODx8IzJLM/XU_Q2ug5Z-I/AAAAAAAADrY/xqmI7kN3mXInseWSNxk31rFfu-U-SYqeACLcBGAs/s1600/csm_Lempertz-1070-300-Modern-Art-Edvard-Munch-Losloesung-II-Separation-_998699a7d7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1600" height="227" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1ODx8IzJLM/XU_Q2ug5Z-I/AAAAAAAADrY/xqmI7kN3mXInseWSNxk31rFfu-U-SYqeACLcBGAs/s320/csm_Lempertz-1070-300-Modern-Art-Edvard-Munch-Losloesung-II-Separation-_998699a7d7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Separation II</i> (1896) by Edvard Munch</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In foul togetherness,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We walked weary,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of weather,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of purpose, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And of each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mud clung to our feet,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our eyes did not meet,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Doors you opened,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Were not for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My breath split in half,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Coloured the vision a sickly grey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You stood apart,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pointing the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At the edge of indifference,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I would be hung,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Half-breath<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And scarce a tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-48404790700216212232019-08-09T09:19:00.002+05:302019-08-09T09:19:56.606+05:30The Itch <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fgOguL9eBy4/XUzsESjT83I/AAAAAAAADq8/y-i0Ifv8N4ABmhPvPOebaXY4X7mn33vmwCLcBGAs/s1600/2b11fc930a1d5fef6027d8ff74078426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="503" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fgOguL9eBy4/XUzsESjT83I/AAAAAAAADq8/y-i0Ifv8N4ABmhPvPOebaXY4X7mn33vmwCLcBGAs/s320/2b11fc930a1d5fef6027d8ff74078426.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Thought </i>(1895) by Auguste Rodin </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That old itch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To walk away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That old itch <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To walk away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Without a stomp, kick or a scream,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That old itch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To walk away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With nothing but<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The smoothening of all furrows,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The lengthening of measured breath,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The swing of the loose end of a borrowed
ascetic robe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That old itch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is back again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Clutch the ground<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With twenty toes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ball your fists,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lock those nails.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let the face crease<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With every passing breeze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t let placid waters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Drown the flickering dream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beware,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That old itch <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is back again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-2745013100235459132019-05-07T10:23:00.001+05:302019-05-07T10:23:23.712+05:30The Panting-Pacing Eye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_e9v5R_Poc/XNEOq3CuP5I/AAAAAAAADcc/lUJzt8Lj5Uc-EFgFNRYijhS_SH05t_INQCLcBGAs/s1600/Impression-Sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C_e9v5R_Poc/XNEOq3CuP5I/AAAAAAAADcc/lUJzt8Lj5Uc-EFgFNRYijhS_SH05t_INQCLcBGAs/s1600/Impression-Sunrise.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Impression Sunrise, </i>1872 </div>
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by Claude Monet</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Days scorched<br />
Dry and bare.<br />
Caught like a fly in a web.<br />
A pacing-panting eye<br />
On a swiveling neck.<br />
<br />
How far can one go?<br />
Thirsting new skies.<br />
Flicking old ties.<br />
<br />
At least for a few silent moments<br />
To peer into the clouded depths<br />
of a breeze-creased lake so blue,<br />
To feel the sway of water-weeds grey<br />
And the kickswim of the froglet stray.<br />
<br />
To see a lone cloud or two<br />
Afloat on its surface.<br />
And later that night<br />
The molten red moon bleed all over it.<br />
<br />
Then maybe,<br />
The panting-pacing eye too<br />
Would learn to still itself.<br />
To hold tenderly in its waters, all life,<br />
With a loving and patient sigh.<br />
<br /></div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-3784057065270843592019-04-29T20:34:00.002+05:302019-04-29T20:34:40.234+05:30Shuttling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs85GUyY9Lo/XMcR9CmOeSI/AAAAAAAADcE/eK74LWchUzsOjymCNDI7S8k6Ql-a2dn1QCLcBGAs/s1600/1937%2BPablo%2BPicasso%2B%2528Spanish%2Bartist%252C%2B1881%25E2%2580%25931973%2529%2B%2BPortrait%2Bof%2BDora%2BMaar.%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas.%2B1937..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="447" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs85GUyY9Lo/XMcR9CmOeSI/AAAAAAAADcE/eK74LWchUzsOjymCNDI7S8k6Ql-a2dn1QCLcBGAs/s320/1937%2BPablo%2BPicasso%2B%2528Spanish%2Bartist%252C%2B1881%25E2%2580%25931973%2529%2B%2BPortrait%2Bof%2BDora%2BMaar.%2BOil%2Bon%2Bcanvas.%2B1937..jpg" width="223" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Potrait of Dora Maar </i>, 1937</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">by Pablo Picasso</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shuttling between</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Two halves of myself</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day, afternoon and night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before a moment of laughter ceases</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hark, the other peg.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And as the head finds a spot of rest</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rings the parting bell.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I rush this way and that</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With clumsy entries and exits.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Trailing behind disappointed faces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And too much unfinished business.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shuttling between</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Two halves of myself</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day, afternoon and night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am quite certain,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Long ago, on this very ride,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have let slip a part of myself. </span></div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-11625315471149249542019-04-13T13:34:00.002+05:302019-04-13T13:34:32.904+05:30To Be Alone <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qXjMuC83duo/XLGJpo_3y0I/AAAAAAAADa0/nWRexWBY_uMVC3AzlSNRmewahhB6nQXxgCLcBGAs/s1600/party-in-paris-1947_%2BMax%2BBeckmann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1200" height="205" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qXjMuC83duo/XLGJpo_3y0I/AAAAAAAADa0/nWRexWBY_uMVC3AzlSNRmewahhB6nQXxgCLcBGAs/s320/party-in-paris-1947_%2BMax%2BBeckmann.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Party in Paris </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">by Max Beckmann, 1947</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be alone isn’t
an emptying of the room,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Faces vanishing
into the night,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Walking other
lanes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Turning other
corners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be alone isn’t
voices no longer speaking your tongue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Abuzz, alien,
apart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be alone isn’t
just eyes turned away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Smiles beaming
elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be alone
perhaps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is my steps
slowing down,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Toward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Across.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be alone
perhaps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">is a sealing of
the lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A turning blind
with open eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The smile left
unused at the dresser.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be alone
perhaps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is to leave the full room<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And step into
the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-45241663807362016762018-12-31T22:15:00.000+05:302018-12-31T22:15:00.172+05:30Growing Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F6kaNqNKoVg/XCo8MO6fhCI/AAAAAAAADPY/WLkSRh8dqD8LtBmjuOPvkAQUarvm5mXkQCLcBGAs/s1600/Seated%2BGIrl%2BFacing%2BFront%2BEgon%2BSchiele%2B1911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="459" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F6kaNqNKoVg/XCo8MO6fhCI/AAAAAAAADPY/WLkSRh8dqD8LtBmjuOPvkAQUarvm5mXkQCLcBGAs/s320/Seated%2BGIrl%2BFacing%2BFront%2BEgon%2BSchiele%2B1911.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
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<i>Seated Girl Facing Front</i></div>
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by Egon Schiele</div>
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(1911)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Growing old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">What <i>does</i> it mean?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I think not, the stray grey hair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Trailing amid the careless black.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Or the shortness of breath<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">After a flight of stairs winding up to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The change happens deeper within</span><br />
<span style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: large;">Silently but decidedly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Forgiveness, a closed fist,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Wounds heal not quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Belief darkly tainted <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Smiles held hostage by gloom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Love once abundant in the heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Trudges heavily and uncertainly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The road to imminent doom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-78097905275373548152018-12-09T12:00:00.000+05:302018-12-09T12:00:30.217+05:30Memories<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZiWnnyeXe8/XAy0E8CC4HI/AAAAAAAADNg/l60pRj2X2OoR2fiZI_jmNGCN8nawCKdpQCLcBGAs/s1600/portrait-of-asian-woman-with-flowerRhoda%2BWeissman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="673" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZiWnnyeXe8/XAy0E8CC4HI/AAAAAAAADNg/l60pRj2X2OoR2fiZI_jmNGCN8nawCKdpQCLcBGAs/s320/portrait-of-asian-woman-with-flowerRhoda%2BWeissman.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<i>Portrait of Asian Woman with Flower</i></div>
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by Rhoda Weissman </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Memories</div>
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Like Russian dolls</div>
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Hide tenderly</div>
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One inside the other</div>
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Bright hued</div>
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And sometimes brittle.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I burrow through them all</div>
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To reach the littlest one.</div>
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The most distant now</div>
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Yet the most precious.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And to hold her in the cup of my palm</div>
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Is to fall in love all over again. </div>
<br /></div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-80492059502342803712018-11-19T13:41:00.000+05:302018-11-19T13:41:07.707+05:30Swinging from the Sky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hwgmie1Zw1M/W_JvHJRpBRI/AAAAAAAADMk/RP4hEDHdiQotb83wijaIrGjod5zTLbGFACLcBGAs/s1600/spirits-of-the-flying-umbrellas-leah-saulnier-the-painting-maniac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="900" height="259" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hwgmie1Zw1M/W_JvHJRpBRI/AAAAAAAADMk/RP4hEDHdiQotb83wijaIrGjod5zTLbGFACLcBGAs/s320/spirits-of-the-flying-umbrellas-leah-saulnier-the-painting-maniac.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> Spirits of the Flying Umbrellas </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> by Leah Saulnier</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Swinging from the sky</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Standing upright</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On a bar of dazzling metal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I saw myself through the window tonight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Though far away from me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I could feel her ease, her glee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The breeze, the light, all made her shine</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And swing with a lilt so carefree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">She had companions</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yet she stood apart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hugging the silver rope</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And stared down at me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I wonder if she could see me after all</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Could she feel my prickly skin and aching bones</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My knotted heart and leaden feet?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Was she mocking me?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Or seeking me?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Was she here to stay?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Or just a passing dream?</span></div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-37195462527876443032018-04-17T11:00:00.001+05:302018-04-17T11:00:22.001+05:30My Wretched Sphere<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9NNwwxYn4iY/WtWAfL5K9CI/AAAAAAAACyo/xKnaCebEQ5QP9aYGlbsMofHePwsQtaiSgCLcBGAs/s1600/Maha%2Bbindu%2B1988%2BRaza.Jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9NNwwxYn4iY/WtWAfL5K9CI/AAAAAAAACyo/xKnaCebEQ5QP9aYGlbsMofHePwsQtaiSgCLcBGAs/s320/Maha%2Bbindu%2B1988%2BRaza.Jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Maha Bindu </i>1988</div>
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by S. H. Raza</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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It almost always starts </div>
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With one of Raza's large dots.</div>
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The magnified black sphere of my moist eye.</div>
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Still </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
but surely searching. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At the outset, it latches onto things closest.</div>
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The clutter on the bed</div>
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The somber painting hanging overhead</div>
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Perhaps that novel on the shelf</div>
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Replete with its winding nightmares</div>
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Or that Greek composer playing on loop</div>
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Piano, oboe, strings</div>
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Piano oboe strings</div>
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pianooboestrings</div>
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A melodic lump lodged in my throat.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It could also just be those things he said</div>
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Or didn't say</div>
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Or almost just did</div>
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Last night</div>
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Or many nights ago</div>
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By the window, right here</div>
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Or much further away.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Or that new note</div>
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in voices everywhere</div>
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Doled out in spurts</div>
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A nauseating amalgam of panic and pity.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I take a stroll each day along the elliptical orbits of my life</div>
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Looking for the sources of the cracks along the way</div>
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But this steady gliding and less than graceful sliding</div>
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Almost always slips me back into</div>
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That wretched black sphere</div>
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of my very own eye. </div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-43222183411732236452018-04-08T12:16:00.000+05:302018-04-08T12:16:13.934+05:30Lone Bead<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNC5ehCU2pg/Wsm3rzjnfdI/AAAAAAAACxs/3R_UcHiSHaIRA3PRDy_TM8IXIJR_jxQOACLcBGAs/s1600/syed-haider-raza-village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="381" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNC5ehCU2pg/Wsm3rzjnfdI/AAAAAAAACxs/3R_UcHiSHaIRA3PRDy_TM8IXIJR_jxQOACLcBGAs/s320/syed-haider-raza-village.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
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<i>Village (1956)</i></div>
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<i> </i>by Syed Haider Raza</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Linked tight into the human chain</div>
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<br /></div>
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Suddenly something snaps</div>
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<br /></div>
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And you drift like a lone bead come undone</div>
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<br /></div>
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Slow whirling into space</div>
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<br /></div>
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Regarding the abyss below</div>
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<br /></div>
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Bewildered at those faces</div>
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<br /></div>
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Onward in their braces</div>
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<br /></div>
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Now so dim, their sheen</div>
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<br /></div>
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Much softer, their chug.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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A grey cloud hanging overhead</div>
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<br /></div>
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Draws you in its embrace</div>
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<br /></div>
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And you wait spellbound</div>
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<br /></div>
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For the crack of light</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To cut you through.</div>
</div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-67864514125863221532018-03-10T10:33:00.001+05:302018-03-24T13:24:41.105+05:30 The Problem with My Words<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYN-jIgOSfA/WqNk1C8qf4I/AAAAAAAACjk/pRMzp3CPL2QJQtGg0O7XRgn3inHgJ38awCLcBGAs/s1600/Fashion%2Bshow%2Bdadaist%2BHannah%2BHoch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="750" height="170" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYN-jIgOSfA/WqNk1C8qf4I/AAAAAAAACjk/pRMzp3CPL2QJQtGg0O7XRgn3inHgJ38awCLcBGAs/s320/Fashion%2Bshow%2Bdadaist%2BHannah%2BHoch.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Fashion Show </i></div>
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by Hannah Hoch</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the beginning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was told<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They were much too few.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Too hushed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Too reluctant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Barely enough to be healthy for a growing girl like me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>Embrace the world</i>, they cheered me on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>Speak up!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They were still kind to me back then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Gazing down at me, amused perhaps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At the little girl with a fixed smile and no words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As the words grew,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">They grew to be selective</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To people and to
places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I managed, in the smallest of circles, to crack a joke
sometimes and at other times, wrench quite admirably, arguments in my favor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was regarded alternately, the clown and the sage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But those fringed outside my orbit<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Grudged me for what they thought was pride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And then the time came
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I fell in love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like most young people tend to do<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And I unearthed a spring of words <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Deep within <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of which I never knew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And they spurted and gushed onto lips and scented paper,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes stale, but sometimes true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But even these words after their brief day in the sun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Were shunned as actually, a bit overdone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>You used them more intensely than you meant them</i>, he concluded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At least in hindsight, they seem a bit too
much. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How could anyone have remained untouched?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How could anyone not repeat after you, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">as if in a trance,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">a trance not brought on by you per se,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">but by
those words you so effortlessly wielded? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, in your interest, for your future</span></i><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">, he prescribed,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Take a good long moment before you utter one of
your dear beloved words and go along strewing sentence after sentence and
fooling in the bargain, poor souls into something they did not want all along. Maybe,
do not trust all the words, bubbling into your mind. Cast them aside. And say
the bare minimum. Understate always, if you have to declare anything at all. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So I scribbled secretly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">my words <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">into frayed old notebooks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">and deserted virtual walls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">and even those that escaped my lips<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I made sure were snipped to fit, what I thought, was the bill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But the commentary wouldn’t stop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Friends occasionally noted their glossy artifice <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And how I made the ordinary sound pretty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Or remarked disdainfully of their dull propriety. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And one dear one even declared how in the end, they were
all quite irrelevant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am these days,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most uncertain about these most dearest of my possessions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While I trust them less and less each passing day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have also come to believe for certain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That these moody words of mine,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Swimming restlessly like a cloud of tadpoles within me,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "garamond" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Are the only thing that can and will show me the way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-82371888706661427632018-02-12T12:59:00.001+05:302018-02-12T12:59:31.166+05:30Encounter <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MIEO6Ibs_Ac/WoE-QhzEoAI/AAAAAAAACiU/zZ1Ku-E6zvAyDCU81Bqhw36fM59cuGaqQCLcBGAs/s1600/2017_NYR_14182_0120_000%2528wang_jiqian_cliffs_and_boulders_contending_in_beauty%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="460" height="236" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MIEO6Ibs_Ac/WoE-QhzEoAI/AAAAAAAACiU/zZ1Ku-E6zvAyDCU81Bqhw36fM59cuGaqQCLcBGAs/s320/2017_NYR_14182_0120_000%2528wang_jiqian_cliffs_and_boulders_contending_in_beauty%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wang Jiqian (Wang, 1907-2003)</div>
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<i>Cliffs and Boulders Contending in Beauty</i></div>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A humble attempt to translate my father Anup Sethi's poem सामना (1985)</span></h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The mountain of grief stands tall, o child!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">You will scrape at it with tender hands. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not a scratch will you be able to engrave<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Slashing at it for a lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">A gravel of tear will float<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the whole world will sprawl into a blur before you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just keep your jaw clenched</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And if possible, don’t blink. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-89283593209899847612018-01-22T13:11:00.003+05:302018-01-22T13:11:46.168+05:30Guilt <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xeavungutEs/WmWSqbDML8I/AAAAAAAABFo/7iGil_ByYfwRZqmHFaZ8V7S4j45IVXWtwCLcBGAs/s1600/Warhol%2BSelf%2BPortrait%2B1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="393" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xeavungutEs/WmWSqbDML8I/AAAAAAAABFo/7iGil_ByYfwRZqmHFaZ8V7S4j45IVXWtwCLcBGAs/s320/Warhol%2BSelf%2BPortrait%2B1966.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
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<i>Self Portrait </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
by Andy Warhol (1966)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Is guilt my convenient conscience cleaner?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Like one of those acidic sprays off the shelf</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No worries if a mess is made<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I just draw out my handy friend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And wipe out my trail of stubborn stains?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is, you seem to suggest, isn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You patient memoried surface of my spills and blows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But it’s been far too long<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And you’ve turned a
bitter hue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With all the rubbing and scrubbing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And me, oh so exhausted from this ritual<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">that has turned <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">that wretched blue bottle into a synthetic fifth limb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-11705903748432347212017-12-05T21:30:00.000+05:302017-12-05T21:30:29.607+05:30Unwinding <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QCHUfkrr_H0/Wia868VjZsI/AAAAAAAABEw/NSHNXmea3Z0d1lUyWCjZ98MHS9vjBaTEwCLcBGAs/s1600/persistenceofmemory1931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="620" height="215" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QCHUfkrr_H0/Wia868VjZsI/AAAAAAAABEw/NSHNXmea3Z0d1lUyWCjZ98MHS9vjBaTEwCLcBGAs/s320/persistenceofmemory1931.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><i>Persistence of Memory</i> (1931)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">By Salvador Dali</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Oiling mother’s tired hair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Withered under each day’s sun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tangled hopelessly behind her deceptive bun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I moisten it gently<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like the month of July<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And then, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like I’ve seen her sometimes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Loosening the tense soil of a potted plant,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I push my fingers deeper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Into her slowly softening scalp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The hair lusterless all week<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Slowly grows adazzle and sleek<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The strands of black and hennaed brown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And even the few greys that make her frown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I go on to part her hair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Carefully<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like opening a precious gilded book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And almost magically<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Flanks and flanks of regal silver<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tucked within these unseen folds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Come into my full view. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Was it Time I was staring at?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wound up and waiting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the heart of my mother’s dense hair?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In any case,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I oiled it too, tenderly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And then,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Braided it with the rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789743612701072655.post-74342086026970604142017-09-17T12:50:00.000+05:302017-09-17T12:50:00.553+05:30 August Mornings <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x30s23u2Al8/Wb4g-mdyX6I/AAAAAAAABC8/_3mXuCC45Qkd1RTEbm5qGa7eamSOjeuOACLcBGAs/s1600/Edvard%2Bmunch%2Bwavesof%2Blove%2B1896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="550" height="243" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x30s23u2Al8/Wb4g-mdyX6I/AAAAAAAABC8/_3mXuCC45Qkd1RTEbm5qGa7eamSOjeuOACLcBGAs/s320/Edvard%2Bmunch%2Bwavesof%2Blove%2B1896.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Waves of Love</i> (1896)</div>
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by Edvard Munch</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The cloud of sleep dissipates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I wake up free falling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Eyes still shut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I begin to feel once again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That ache<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Unrelenting in its grasp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Much like how you reached out to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shoulders first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Eyes still shut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My nose tingles next<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With the dust in the stale air,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Suspended lifeless<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From weeks of fastened windows and dead skin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Eyes still shut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I hear my heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dripping through my ear into the pillow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Setting my head a-ticking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Eyes still shut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I can see already<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The dark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like waves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lapping against me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The cloud of sleep by now dissipated,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With eyes still quite shut,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I wake up sunk,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Arundhati Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773747898882271219noreply@blogger.com0