By Kriti Manuja
First lesson in love is obligation
Your happiness lies in the laughter of others
No matter how much you bled giving yourself away
Perhaps that’s why we’re all anaemic
Your flesh was made for feeding
For villages to devour
Driven through gluttony
You’ve been their provider since birth
And Fate’s dictated you kill yourself
Before they understand what loss means
You’ll feel her presence a thousand times in this life
Enveloping
All encompassing
You’ll welcome her with a smile on your face
Door wide open
सेवा के लिए तो बनी हूँ Seva ke liye to bani hoon
This life doesn’t offer you hands to hold
Or arms to fall into
You’ll make peace with her lingering
Monogamous
All yours for the taking
Theirs for the taking
Bit by bit
धीरे धीरे Dheere Dheere
Assigned vessel at birth
Cargo for baggage
No strings were needed to tie you down
Your head
Your feet
Your hands
All counterweights
True love
Not being able to leave
Despite your dreams of flying
Unconditional
It’s authenticity determined in total surrender
प्यार भि एक तरह कि सती है Pyaar bhi ek tarah ka sati hai
At least in this life you’ll understand
what it is to give
Love
Until the blood’s drained
Until there’s no flesh to bone
Only upon death comes reincarnation.
About the Author: Kriti is a daughter to an immigrant mother, a refugee grandmother, eternally aware of the privileges of the modern life. Observing desi-fied intersectional feminism, expressed through poetry as a medium.