Debarati Sen

attic trunk
the one-eyed doll
has grown nails

— Debarati Sen

hail storm

a shadow keeps

coming closer

— Debarati Sen

Debarati Sen

blood moon —
a gagged child’s moan

from the dustbin

— Debarati Sen

Debarati Sen

scattering the ash
his silhouette floats 
with the waves

— Debarati Sen

Debarati Sen

lamp shade
a shadow grows horns

— Debarati Sen

Debarati Sen

funeral pyre
the body 
sits up straight

— Debarati Sen

Debarati Sen

first day of school — 
a blood soaked uniform
blocks the traffic

— Debarati Sen

funeral —

she returns to take

her favourite saree

— Debarati Sen

Debarati Sen

village dusk —
a pair of hairy hands 
grab my feet

— Debarati Sen

family vacation

the car falls headlong

into a gorge

— Debarati Sen

Debarati Sen

train accident —
a severed head 
rolls down the track

— Debarati Sen

burning ghat —

a sudden breath

on my nape

— Debarati Sen

Debarati Sen

winter night —
I answer the
nishi daak

— Debarati Sen

garbage bag —

the foetus grabs

my hand

— Debarati Sen

Debarati Sen

dementia —
dad asks me
my good name 

— Debarati Sen

memory loss —

grandma dresses up

in her wedding gown

— Debarati Sen