Tuesday 28 April 2015

Where I am From

Ajanta painting source

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

27 comments:

  1. 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

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  2. WOW! I am speechless. You have outdone yourself. A brilliant write, Sumana!

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  3. To know one's life as ONE with the land one lives on
    is to be at peace with all that is kNOWn
    from underfoot..:)

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  4. 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!

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  5. What magic in this.. the repetitions and that final line really tie it all together to a wonderful story..really a magnificent write.

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  6. Whew, Sumana, you were REALLY inspired. I am really awed by your words that seem to come from a deep place.

    I 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.

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  7. 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!

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  8. This 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.

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  9. More 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/.

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  10. This is absolutely marvellous - the flow and the strange names, unknown to a European, make the magic.

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  11. I found myself replying verbally to this while I was reading it. Very powerful. It transported me to the very heart of your existence!

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  12. i love the personification here - and how you fill the outlines of the land with color, scent and history

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  13. I can feel your love for your homeland in these words.

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  14. Absolutely amazing. The beauty of I AM.

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  15. i like the witness with the wound still oozing from despair. very powerful.

    My Brain is a Cheap Gadget That Spins

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  16. A dramatic love song to your country, Sumana, which is even more moving when read aloud.

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  17. I very much enjoyed your colorful and imaginative description of India. A wonderful glimpse!

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  18. This 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!

    ~Prajakta

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  19. They'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 :-)

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  20. a national anthem, a love poem!

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  21. the repeated line gave this a generational feel

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  22. A beautiful dedication to the legacy of Bharat, I hope we Barthiyas remember it and try to maintain it.

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  23. I 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.

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  24. Seriously, 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..

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    Replies
    1. Oh 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...

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  25. Part exclamation of who you are, part prayer, entirely beautiful!

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