Author Archives: iheart11

NaBloPoMo 2021: Do Good Kid! I’d like you to remember that no matter what you do There will be voices of dissent, criticizing you If you do things differently, peer pressure you will face If you do nothing to stand out, you might not find a place In a top-notch college, or in a careerContinue reading “Criticized..”

NaBloPoMo 2021 #4 This year as Diwali we celebrate As the Gods and Goddesses we venerate As we applaud the storied victory Of good over evil, let the allegory Of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance Take center-stage, achieve prominence From dark times we emerge in to light Propelled by science, we are winning theContinue reading “Diwali this year”

NaBloPoMo 2021 Do Good, Kid Do you know it is very easy to Get away by doing as little as you can do You would probably be fine by doing the minimum required Your life would be smooth even if you never aspired To go the extra mile, a little extra effort make.. On theContinue reading “A little extra effort…”

This is for my child and others like him, whose parents are frontline workers dealing with the stress of the pandemic every day…we have brought anxiety home through these trying times. (NaBloPoMo 2021- Do Good Child) I know the pandemic has been harsh on you Caused upheaval in your life, it’s true Besides homeschooling andContinue reading “To children shaped by the pandemic”

(NaBloPoMo 2021- Do Good, Kid) I am your mother and like it or not From me you shall imbibe a lot While my core values I would like to impart There is something that with all my heart I hope does not percolate to you I am imperfect, have flawed perceptions too My biases andContinue reading “Biased”

Too many complicated problems in front of me Too many variables for me to evaluate objectively The best possible decision I want to make I try to include everything that’s at stake So that with regret I would not look back Knowing I did my best, I did not slack ** A peculiar conundrum IContinue reading “Who decides?”

I shake off the remark, the subtle insinuation The display of feigned solidarity for my situation I shrug off the insult cleverly disguised Reinforce my thicker skin, as advised By well-wishers, mentors, managers, administrators To keep my sanity in a world that caters To the ego of men in power everywhere I cannot complain aboutContinue reading “Micro aggressions…”

Skimp on a step, find a shortcut again The elaborate methods cause too much pain Abbreviated phrases, vowels dropped out Are faster to type without a doubt Use the chopper, microwave, instant pot Flavor sacrificed, but the thought Of saving time occupies my mind No gourmet meals, but more time I can find To devoteContinue reading “Life in Shortcut”

Intellectually I understand That biases should have little place In my perception of the world But the reality that I face Is that biases sneak in somehow Embed themselves without a sound In the recess of my subconscious mind I know my judgment they confound Such that I, often imperceptibly End up practicing discrimination IContinue reading “Implicit Bias”

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 expressionContinue reading “Which role am I in today?”

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 notContinue reading “Hair…”

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 helpContinue reading “The Mask..”