(There are) many stories which are not on paper,
they are written in the bodies and minds of women.
— Amrita Pritam
I hear her each morning
before she rounds the corner
heading to the well.
It is a shuffling, almost furtive,
where her worn sandals
scuffle hard-packed dust.
It would have been kinder to kill her,
but he is not a kind man.
Something about her scuffle
excites him. Reminds him of
the strength it took to take her —
to break her.
Yet there is something else
there in her sound that
rounds the corner each morning.
It is determination.
It is refusal.
It is victory.
Punam is today’s guest host for dVerse’ Poetics. Punam says:
For today’s poetics I am sharing five lines from various poems of Amrita Pritam. Use anyone of them as an epigraph, or as a springboard for your verse. Write in a form of your choice. Do mention Amrita Pritam as the source of your inspiration.
- When a man denies the power of women, he is denying his subconscious.
- Like an offering at the altar of the spirit, our names slipping out of our lips, became a sacred hymn.
- (There are) many stories which are not on paper, they are written in the bodies and minds of women.
- Perhaps I will become a ray of sunshine, to be embraced by your colours. I will paint myself on your canvas.
- Look further on ahead, there between truth and falsehood, a little empty space.
top image: “Woman at the Well iii” by Hyatt Moore
Oops! Apologies for forgetting to put the title on it. I blamed WP but it was my boo boo.
Tao Talk 
Li, you portrayed that vicious excitement in him so well! But what I love most is those last lines! Bravo! ❤️
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Thank you, Punam. I don’t like to go into that headspace very often to think about things I’ve experienced, learned about, etc., but Poetess Amrita Pritam walked with me there and gave me strength <3
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My thought, exactly. I would not want to be inside that mind.
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It is not a nice place to visit, I agree but I am glad you wrote this. You are so welcome. ❤️
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Love how you’ve ended this poem.
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Sadje, thank you very much. Just an fyi: on your comment it says you are commenting on “23603” instead of the title of the poem. Looks like WP is being glitchy today :(
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That’s weird! You’re welcome my friend
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Sadje, I realized I forgot to put a title on it, so it is my bad. Sorry WP! :)
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Haha! I do it too. No worries
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Lovely
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Lisa your words have resonated deeply, deeply.
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Indeed, Lisa :-) So well-put. Sometimes, victory is quiet determination just like that.
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Sunra, thank you <3
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You’re most welcome, Lisa 💖
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That is an excellent character sketch of both the man and woman. The ending part is open to interpretation and can be good or bad. Love your response !
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Grace thank you so much for your thoughtful comment <3
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Your poem packs a powerful punch of real truth Lisa. Yes!
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Thanks much, Rob.
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That inner strength is usually invisible to the person who inflicts the pain. But it is patient. One can only hope it finds the opening it needs to escape. (K)
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Good way of putting it, Kerfe.
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So much unsaid and implied here; really hooked my interest though, pulling for the protagonist.I love your comments on my blog.
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Thank you very much, Glenn.
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potent writing Lisa, you captured both sides so well!
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Kate, thank you very much.
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Great poem, Lisa. This man definitely doesn’t deserve the lady. I hope she finds the strength to dump him!
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Thanks much for reading and your comment. I hope she is rid of him sooner rather than later.
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Reblogged this on Reena Saxena and commented:
It is determination.
It is refusal.
It is victory.
By Lisa
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<3
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Wonderful poem, Li. :)
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Kitty, thank you <3
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Wow.. I am a big fan of Amrita pritam. Your poem is mesmerising
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Vartika, thank you. Punam challenged us at dVerse to write a poem that was inspired by Amrita Pritam.
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Great sad poem… I love that painting also….the style
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Max, thanks much.
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