Like all of us, many hats I wear That represent issues about which I care My identity is a sum total of each one At different points in time, different facets I summon A homemaker, a mother and a physician Are my most important positions Sometimes I am in a mood creative An artistic expression […]

This poem was inspired by two reports I read recently (unverified)- One of a school girl ridiculed for wearing a hijab (apparently her job was yanked off and she was told her hair was beautiful, again unverified) and another of a schoolgirl disbarred from playing soccer because of hair beads (apparently the mom was not […]

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, I have penned this poem highlighting the stigma associated with depression. How do I say that I’m not fine? I don’t want to complain, I don’t want to whine A cheerful attitude attracts vibes positive Therefore under a false facade I Iive Sometimes that facade does help […]

I light the earthen lamp Inhale the deep aroma Of the sticks of incense Fold my hands in prayer Before the idol of the Goddess And with a fervor intense I pray to all the Goddesses I know, they do not ride lions But they have extra hands invisible That work and serve tirelessly Unlike […]

Too many responsibilities I try to take on Finding myself running a marathon At work and home, every single day Tasks off my mental list I tick away The feeling of accomplishment is real, no doubt But slowly, gradually, I am inching towards burnout… My cup whose capacity I considered infinite Is emptied out completely […]

There was a time when I thought Being traditional was not Compatible with a progressive mind Since my worldview was more aligned With liberalism, I wanted to explore Everything new, I hungered for more Experiences to understand the world around me My culture was relegated to dormant history.. * Reinventing myself as I went on […]

Corners, too many in my abode… Rabble of objects Hidden everywhere Unfinished projects Interrupted ideas Incompleteness everywhere Works in progress Languishing in despair Dried liquids, caked powders Chains tangled and twisted Jewelry, clothing, lying unworn Knick-knacks I’d forgotten existed Journals, some rough at the edges Pages filled with disjointed prose Some with covers pristine, less […]

Children look up to their parents Mothers and fathers strength epitomize But my parents were new immigrants Always meek, afraid- it took me long to realize How strong they were- forced to seek asylum In a country where they knew neither language nor custom They tried to earn a living honest Stretched thin, they did […]

Is there a foolproof method, she asks in a low voice After I go through every available choice I shake my head, birth control methods work when they do But they can, and do, fail too No pill, no device, no depot shots can be Used with 100% guarantee ** I look at her, her […]

Research as I understand, is supposed to be A process of painstaking complexity Performed by diligent people who have studied Extensively on a topic- now waters have been muddied- In this pandemic, suddenly everyone has become A master of research, it’s no longer a domain for some All view-points should equally valid be An expert’s […]

Agonizing, each moment Going through the day, a torment Unfocused, unmoored in an anxious wait In a turmoil, trying to project a calm state Eyes wide open, but blunted sight Ears that hear, but listen, not quite A plastic smile, trying to hide The tsunami raging inside Destiny hanging in balance delicate Test results with […]

So many things in the world appear Incomprehensible to me, I fear The many unknowns that surround me Nebulous problems whose solutions I cannot see To keep my sanity, to try to bring some measure Of order in my world, to bring amid chaos, pleasure I flex my creative muscle, albeit weak Some form of […]