This is part of a series on Kenya titled 'One Day I Will Write About This Place' inspired by Binyawanga Wainaina's memoir. The poems were written in 2023 and 2024.
I know this is a poem but you had me on the edge of my seat, in tears, devastated and defeated and then whooping with joy - all in my head but for the length of this gorgeous poem, I felt it all. 💜
Devika with you I grieve for the fallen jacaranda tree, your poetry transported me to the scene, the mercilessness and the ultimate message of life always seeping out.
Beautiful, Devika. "Life seeping out from the massacre, what might!"
I am reading the book "Women who run with the wolves", and its author asserts that the way we hack at our mother earth, we hack at female bodies in the same way - pruning, digging, clearing our surfaces to please the patriarchal overlords. Nature and women are controlled similarly. I felt your grief and saw the hope the mighty tree has shown.
I know this is a poem but you had me on the edge of my seat, in tears, devastated and defeated and then whooping with joy - all in my head but for the length of this gorgeous poem, I felt it all. 💜
You are such a champion for us aspiring artists. Thank you my friend 🤗
Your poems reminded me of an essay by Erica Berry - The Fault of Time (https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/the-fault-of-time/) on the impermanence of landscape and her relationship to it.
Jacarandas have a special place in my heart. This love poem to it is a song to life.
Devika with you I grieve for the fallen jacaranda tree, your poetry transported me to the scene, the mercilessness and the ultimate message of life always seeping out.
Shalini, it affected me for months and the return of the flowers has been a rebirth of sorts. Life affirming
Devika this is a painting a poem and essay filled with love, loss and rebirth. The whole thing is amazing, the first stanza pure genius.🩷🩷🩷
Alaknanda, what generous praise. Thank you
This was prose poetry read in one breath. Very powerful Devika. Looking forward to more writing from Kenya.
Thank you charulatha! I’m on it
Beautiful, Devika. "Life seeping out from the massacre, what might!"
I am reading the book "Women who run with the wolves", and its author asserts that the way we hack at our mother earth, we hack at female bodies in the same way - pruning, digging, clearing our surfaces to please the patriarchal overlords. Nature and women are controlled similarly. I felt your grief and saw the hope the mighty tree has shown.
Thank you Naina for reading. What coincidence, I started reading it a few days ago. I’m right at the beginning though…
Oh wow, a lovely coincidence! You will love it.
<3