Hello Everybody,

R Krishnan M · 08-24-2012, 08:24 AM

This is R Krishnan and I am glad to join this forum. I am interested in creative writing and am also venturing into publishing -- mainly my own works, poetry and stories for children to begin with. I also write for an adult audience but then they are not for publishing. Allow me to share a poem. Please comment on the same. Regards, RK.

Women Understand Water
Water is so precious, water is so scarce,
The women of the village know that well!
Pots balanced on their heads,
They walk long distances to the common well,
Slot the rope on the pulley and lower the bucket;
Year by year it gets deeper and deeper,
Their fear reflects in their clouded eyes as they gaze
Heavenwards with hope and a prayer,
‘Lord, let there be rain this year!’
As they pass the village shrine,
Pleading eyes adore the Lord and implore:
‘Let there be rain this year!’
Weary feet and tired arms concur;
‘Farther and farther we are forced to roam,
For fuel the twigs and faggots, for fodder the thinning grasses.
Lord, at your feet these wilting, wild flowers, the only treat at our means:
Do not deny us.’
The dry wind agitates their cholis and dupattas as they move,
Like so many dry, wind-swept leaves through the parched landscape,
Under skeletal trees bereft of shade.
Scrawny cattle scrape at wisps of grey green scrub,
Their stomachs deflated concavities against protruding ribs.
Young calves suckle on empty pouch like udders,
Stiff-legged, heads bowed, buckle at the knees,
Lie down and die.
‘Lord!’ The dry eyed women implore, at the frontiers of desperation,
Sweating tears, feeding their infants dry stale rotis
touched in salt to help moisten the chew with saliva.
Dry thunder rumbles far above like muted war drums,
As little by little the brittle thatch of their huts
Crumble into the mud below.
‘Lord!’ Parched lips and choked throats whisper, ‘Lord,
Our faith is the only crutch that keeps us erect,
And our love for the soil to which we were born:
Do not defeat us.’
Beyond the low hills the blood-soaked summer sun sinks
Wordlessly, bequeathing the world to the shadows;
And the women, thin specters crouched beside the open fires,
Stirring a pot of weak stew of wild tubers for hungry mouths,
Still survive in the shadows and refuse to fade.
* * *

Valmore Daniels · 08-24-2012, 08:53 AM

Welcome to the boards

desertgrandma · 08-24-2012, 09:08 AM

Welcome to MobileRead, RK.

You'll find better response to your poem and poll if posted in the proper threads.........this is the "introduce yourself" thread and not all members read it......

Try these two for starters.........then take your time and browse the forums and enjoy the journey!!

Author Self Promotions:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=226

Writers Corner:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=75

MickeyC · 08-24-2012, 08:06 PM

Hi R Krishnan and welcome to MobileRead

Shack70 · 08-24-2012, 08:42 PM

Hello and welcome to MR!

StoryEnthusiast · 08-24-2012, 10:09 PM

Welcome R Krishnan. I like the first part of the poem. Is that all or is there more to the poem? Did you write it?

R Krishnan M · 08-25-2012, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoryEnthusiast

Welcome R Krishnan. I like the first part of the poem. Is that all or is there more to the poem? Did you write it?

Hello,
The whole poem was posted. I wonder why u got only a part of it. Yes, it is mine (original!) slice of life in rural India which the tourists don't often notice.

regards
rk

StoryEnthusiast · 08-26-2012, 02:59 AM

I read the whole poem but thought there would be more. This must be due to the fact that I'm not used to reading poem.

ImogenRose · 08-26-2012, 04:02 AM

Welcome to MR!

Imogen

Dr. Drib · 08-31-2012, 12:56 PM

Thread closed.

The Introduce Yourself forum is strictly for new members to introduce themselves. Please see desertgrandma's post for additional information.

If you have any questions, please PM me or another Moderator.

Don
(Moderator)

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08-24-2012, 08:24 AM	#1
R Krishnan M Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: India Device: none	Hello Everybody, This is R Krishnan and I am glad to join this forum. I am interested in creative writing and am also venturing into publishing -- mainly my own works, poetry and stories for children to begin with. I also write for an adult audience but then they are not for publishing. Allow me to share a poem. Please comment on the same. Regards, RK. Women Understand Water Water is so precious, water is so scarce, The women of the village know that well! Pots balanced on their heads, They walk long distances to the common well, Slot the rope on the pulley and lower the bucket; Year by year it gets deeper and deeper, Their fear reflects in their clouded eyes as they gaze Heavenwards with hope and a prayer, ‘Lord, let there be rain this year!’ As they pass the village shrine, Pleading eyes adore the Lord and implore: ‘Let there be rain this year!’ Weary feet and tired arms concur; ‘Farther and farther we are forced to roam, For fuel the twigs and faggots, for fodder the thinning grasses. Lord, at your feet these wilting, wild flowers, the only treat at our means: Do not deny us.’ The dry wind agitates their cholis and dupattas as they move, Like so many dry, wind-swept leaves through the parched landscape, Under skeletal trees bereft of shade. Scrawny cattle scrape at wisps of grey green scrub, Their stomachs deflated concavities against protruding ribs. Young calves suckle on empty pouch like udders, Stiff-legged, heads bowed, buckle at the knees, Lie down and die. ‘Lord!’ The dry eyed women implore, at the frontiers of desperation, Sweating tears, feeding their infants dry stale rotis touched in salt to help moisten the chew with saliva. Dry thunder rumbles far above like muted war drums, As little by little the brittle thatch of their huts Crumble into the mud below. ‘Lord!’ Parched lips and choked throats whisper, ‘Lord, Our faith is the only crutch that keeps us erect, And our love for the soil to which we were born: Do not defeat us.’ Beyond the low hills the blood-soaked summer sun sinks Wordlessly, bequeathing the world to the shadows; And the women, thin specters crouched beside the open fires, Stirring a pot of weak stew of wild tubers for hungry mouths, Still survive in the shadows and refuse to fade. * * *

08-24-2012, 08:53 AM	#2
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	Welcome to the boards

08-24-2012, 09:08 AM	#3
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, RK. You'll find better response to your poem and poll if posted in the proper threads.........this is the "introduce yourself" thread and not all members read it...... Try these two for starters.........then take your time and browse the forums and enjoy the journey!! Author Self Promotions: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=226 Writers Corner: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=75

08-24-2012, 08:06 PM	#4
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi R Krishnan and welcome to MobileRead

08-24-2012, 08:42 PM	#5
Shack70 Guru Posts: 775 Karma: 1043626 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: York, Pa Device: Kindle Fire 10", Honor 8 Android Phone	Hello and welcome to MR!

08-24-2012, 10:09 PM	#6
StoryEnthusiast K. C. Lee Posts: 584 Karma: 3652522 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Zealand Device: Android phone	Welcome R Krishnan. I like the first part of the poem. Is that all or is there more to the poem? Did you write it?

08-26-2012, 02:59 AM	#8
StoryEnthusiast K. C. Lee Posts: 584 Karma: 3652522 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Zealand Device: Android phone	I read the whole poem but thought there would be more. This must be due to the fact that I'm not used to reading poem.

08-26-2012, 04:02 AM	#9
ImogenRose PORTAL Posts: 7,204 Karma: 2884640 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Kindle 1, Kindle 3 (3G), iPhone	Welcome to MR! Imogen

08-31-2012, 12:56 PM	#10
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,737 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Thread closed. The Introduce Yourself forum is strictly for new members to introduce themselves. Please see desertgrandma's post for additional information. If you have any questions, please PM me or another Moderator. Don (Moderator)

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