Threads That Bind
Pushed deep
inside cupboards,
Women draw out
what time left behind:
…frayed sarees,
…a
child’s-stained frock,
…a shirt worn
thin by years
Scraps of memory
lie
spread across
the floor,
a mosaic of
moments
each piece
bearing
its own weather,
its own breath.
Needle and
thread
begin their
patient conversation.
Crimson meets
indigo,
mustard leans
into moss green
none alike, yet
together
they bloom into
warmth
only closeness
can weave.
The kantha
grows,
smoothening
uneven edges,
seamlessly
stitching differences
Whispering
compromise,
with every pull
of the thread
A quiet act of
faith
Reinstating that
beauty
need not match
to belong.
As it is with
us, our nation
Quilted from
contradictions
Languages
braided, beliefs colliding
Yet held
together by the same thread
When cold winds
of discord blow,
we draw that old
kantha
to our hearts,
for succor
feeling the
pulse of every fragrance
And remember,
in diversity
lies our greatness.
©Snigdha Agrawal
(kantha – a
traditional embroidery technique for creating quilts, bedspreads and other
decorative items)
A Grand Symphony
The stage is
set, the lights aglow
A thousand
hearts begin to know
Each instrument
is a voice in prayer,
For one great
nation, proud and fair.
The Dhol
resounds with freedom’s might,
The Basuri
breathes peace, serene and light.
The Sitar is
plucked, creating ragas
Unifying
dreamers, one and all.
The Veena hums
of ancient days,
The Tabla
repeats in praise
From east to
west, from shore to hill,
Music binds the
country still.
Different tunes,
yet none divide,
For every note
walks side by side;
A harmony of
faith and fire,
Of countless
souls with one desire.
Beneath one
flag, their sounds entwine,
Like rivers
joining the divine;
A melody of
hearts set free
One Nation, one
grand Symphony.
©Snigdha Agrawal
Dhol – drum played
with a stick held in each hand
Basuri - flute
Sitar – a plucked
string instrument
Veena – a
traditional stringed instrument similar to a lute or harp
Tabla – a pair of
Indian hand drums
SNIGDHA AGRAWAL
SNIGDHA AGRAWAL (née Banerjee) brings
over two decades of corporate experience to her multifaceted writing career. A
versatile author, she writes across genres, including poetry, short stories,
prose, and travelogues. Raised in a cosmopolitan environment and educated in a
convent school and college run by Irish nuns, she blends Eastern depth with
Western sensibility in her work. She is the author of five published books,
spanning poetry and short fiction. Her most recent release, Fragments of Time,
a deeply personal memoir, is available on Amazon worldwide. Her writings have
appeared in numerous domestic and international anthologies and literary
journals. In recognition of her poetic craft, she was recently nominated for
the 2024 Pushcart Prize. Now in her seventies, Snigdha’s passion for writing
and travel remains as vibrant as ever.
No comments :
Post a Comment