'Poetry freed from words entwines us'
Reading corner
Author’s Consent
by Mahe Jabeen
right then
as poetry happens
he comes and
kisses me
trying to find meter
in the sound of his feet
I close my eyes
youth
engulfs me
thoughts
that were taking shape
lose their way
my poetic images
get mercilessly plundered
an unmasked love
kisses my naked forehead
a touch immersed in my eyes
shines provocatively
on my cheek
a look perches on the curve of my neck
and moves like a breeze
poetry freed from words
entwines us
lips publish the poem
with the author’s consent
Translated from the Telugu by Velcheru Narayana Rao
Healing notes
Last week I felt vulnerable a lot. Talking about envy, my emotions in team meetings, just listening to other women’s emotions were all hard for me. I persisted because I believe vulnerability is a key to sustained engagement with the world. Vulnerability has such a bad reputation. Especially because fragility is tied so closely to it. I have been told a lot that I am too vulnerable and it needs to be 'tempered'. It has made me question the role vulnerability plays in healing. I share a lot of my struggles pretty easily but I am also a very private person. This was always seen as a dichotomy and not seen as a spectrum, even by me. This seems to be a pattern in general. I’ve learnt so much from others being vulnerable in the world - my friends, writers, artists and just everyone. It’s helped me see how much their narratives have helped me. Not assuming here that my narrative helps anyone else but me. Does vulnerability play a role in your healing? Yours and others? What reading helps? Do share. The experiment I did was writing down what part of my being allows for vulnerability to thrive and what part restricts it. Then mapping if vulnerability was something I actively seeked out. Do you want to try as well? Vulnerability is powerful. At least how I see it, it’s a powerful source of healing. But I found that sometimes I actively shut down my vulnerability on most days. From fears of all kinds. Here's hoping I let my vulnerability out more often. <3
Food experiments
I love cooked fruits. I didn't realise this till recently. It is such a yummy dessert to indulge in. Quick to make, easy and super healthy.
Apple and banana sludge
Two apples
Two bananas
Pecans
Honey
A little bit of olive oil
Pour the oil on a vessel and keep on the gas. Add honey after a while.
Cut up the apples and bananas and add to the mixture. Add a bit more honey from the top. Sprinkle the pecans into the bowl.
Cook the apples and bananas till a bit gooey.
Eat just like that or add as a topping to your morning cereal. You can even add it as a topping to your chia seed pudding.
Just mix two tablespoons of chia seed in 200ml milk of your choice and place in fridge for 3-4 hours. Add the apples and bananas on top and yum yum yum!
Dear you,
Viral persists and I am slowly recovering. I hope the past week has had time for
calmness and solitude, if you like both. <3
Love, kindness and warmth,
Nidsitis
'I’ve been circling for thousands of years and I still don’t know: Am I a falcon, a storm, or a great song?' - Rainer Maria Rilke