Ajanta painting source |
any picture comes to my mind, i try to give it a body of words, love to sit on other blooms, for honey, color, fragrance........
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Where I am From
I’m from the Divine Desire
I am the ancient land
Where Rishis saw the Mantras
Written in letters of light
And sang the Vedas
I am from the Divine Desire
I am the ocean
Embracing the streams of all Faiths
In my vast bosom
My face is of Ajanta painting
My two hands are
Chanakya and Aryabhata
My heart is of the Buddha
I speak in more than
Thousand tongues
I am from the Divine Desire
I am the divine song
Sung by the ecstatic Mirabai
In presence of God
I am from the Divine Desire
I am the Dark Age
Where the righteous suffered
And sinners thrived
I am Suttee
Having climbed the pyre of my husband
I surrendered myself
To the sky touching flame
In many a birth
I am from the Divine Desire
I am a witness
I saw Them coming from other lands
Lashing me with their ruling whip
And trying to break
The backbone of my children
By holding them captive in their own land
I bore all
Though the wound still oozes despair
I am from the Divine Desire
I am the flute
Of eternal lovers
I am the mother
Of all who resides in me
I am the dust grains on the streets
Still touched by holy feet
Bharat is my name
But all by mistake
Call me India
Posted for Mary’s prompt Where I am
From @ d’Verse Poetics
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The repetition of "I am from the Devine Desire" pounds this home. Mythical, mysterious - like a religious chant this so deeply marks a deepness in where you are from. Excellent! Hayes Spencer is Kanzensakura
ReplyDeleteWOW! I am speechless. You have outdone yourself. A brilliant write, Sumana!
ReplyDeleteTo know one's life as ONE with the land one lives on
ReplyDeleteis to be at peace with all that is kNOWn
from underfoot..:)
That took me on such a magical journey - and that perfect conclusion! Trying to give all that diversity and richness a single name... A wonderfu flow of a poem, Sumana!
ReplyDeleteWhat magic in this.. the repetitions and that final line really tie it all together to a wonderful story..really a magnificent write.
ReplyDeleteWhew, Sumana, you were REALLY inspired. I am really awed by your words that seem to come from a deep place.
ReplyDeleteI am the ocean
Embracing the streams of all Faiths
In my vast bosom
Sumana, this is a poem to FEEL in one's heart and soul. This is inspiration.
I am amazed that the words just came to you, Sumana. I also like how the closing lines through a different light on your poem. A wonderful tribute to your country!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful Sumana. Your love of India comes through. Love the way you write of its struggles, its faith and its strength. Clearly, India is within you.
ReplyDeleteMore than most, your country is reflected in you, who you became, & who you are; Mother India, mother earth, Miss Natural, with a strong vein of spiritual zeal as well; a grand gesture as response to the prompt, giving us the sense that even on these poetic scales, you are much more still. I like the lines /I am the flute/of eternal lovers/.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely marvellous - the flow and the strange names, unknown to a European, make the magic.
ReplyDeleteI found myself replying verbally to this while I was reading it. Very powerful. It transported me to the very heart of your existence!
ReplyDeletei love the personification here - and how you fill the outlines of the land with color, scent and history
ReplyDeleteI can feel your love for your homeland in these words.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely amazing. The beauty of I AM.
ReplyDeletei like the witness with the wound still oozing from despair. very powerful.
ReplyDeleteMy Brain is a Cheap Gadget That Spins
A dramatic love song to your country, Sumana, which is even more moving when read aloud.
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed your colorful and imaginative description of India. A wonderful glimpse!
ReplyDeleteThis puts a great light on our country... It was vivid, it was serene and it was powerful. It is a good reminder of our rich heritage when I take a look around. Thank you for this!
ReplyDelete~Prajakta
Wonderfully described!
ReplyDeleteThey've said it all before, the magic, the enchantment... All that's left for me is to agree. And to thank you for introducing ideas that are new to me, like the Divine Desire. As much as I've read before, I don't remember I ever came across it. So thanks :-)
ReplyDeletea national anthem, a love poem!
ReplyDeletethe repeated line gave this a generational feel
ReplyDeleteA beautiful dedication to the legacy of Bharat, I hope we Barthiyas remember it and try to maintain it.
ReplyDeleteI came back for another read and this poem just blows me away with its deep spirituality, wisdom, and beauty. Best "where I am from" poem I have ever read. Wonderful to have such a faith, Sumana. Wow.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, and frankly, this is stunning, just stunning, every line, word and syllable, and together as verse. As we have finished a month in India at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai, and because of prior knowledge as well, I was SO thrilled to really understand what you were saying, in detail - which really made it an exciting, fascinating read - and not a tame one, you really hit hard in parts, but where was the Ganges..
ReplyDeleteOh thank you Hamish..you really detected the flaw..I ought to have included the Ganges or our goddess Ganga...ugh..how could I have missed the vein of India? sigh...
DeletePart exclamation of who you are, part prayer, entirely beautiful!
ReplyDelete