Crossing the Vaitarani: Journeys
Description:
Pages: 73
Price: HB Rs 150, FB Rs 100
Year of Publication: 2008
ISBN:
HB 978-81-8157-780-1 (9788181577801)
FB 978-81-8157-781-8 (9788181577818)
About the Author:
Rachna Joshi is a poet, writer and editor. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English from Delhi University and a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Syracuse University. She has worked as Business Manager for Dandelion Magazine Society, Calgary, Canada and has also taught English as a Second Language there. She now works as the Senior Assistant Editor at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
Teaser:
Varanasi
Shikharas
sloping ghats
the expanse of the Ganges.
Where the dead are burnt amid woodlots —
Manikarnika ghat
Where the sorrowful tale
of a legendary King was immortalized —
Harishchandra ghat.
Tales of Siva
entering the city on Mahasivaratri
float around.
In the Vishwanath temple, I
threw coins into the well
below which flows mighty Bhagirathi.
Spark,
I shall return
To the light
Chidananda rupah
Sivoham, sivoham
Conciousness, Bliss,
Auspiciousness.
Contents:
RELIGIOUS POEMS / 9-26
Crossing the Vaitarani / 11
Varanasi / 12
Durga in Alberta / 13
Bhaja Govindam / 14
Sunita / 15
Prayer for Vrinda / 17
Cilantro / 18
Bush Pilots / 19
Release from Darkness / 21
Leaving India / 22
Elation / 23
Change / 24
INDIAN POEMS / 25-50
Home Coming / 27
Working Women’s Hostel / 28
The Party / 30
Tomorrow / 32
Images / 33
Friezes / 34
Early Morning / 35
Visitor’s Diary / 36
Worli Sea Face / 38
Bombay / 40
Rajasthan in the Rains / 41
The Anthropological Atlas / 42
Landour Sky / 43
Surfacing / 44
Diary Entry — Latur, 1995 / 45
Ooty / 46
The Okhla Wildife Park / 47
Shards / 48
Central Asia / 49
Jeev / 50
CANADIAN POEMS / 51-60
Objective Poetry / 53
Seasons / 54
Vancouver / 55
Jade Earrings / 56
College Nights / 57
To a Friend Who Ran Away / 59
Doubts / 60
INDONESIAN POEMS / 61-73
Kraktau / 63
Jakarta / 64
Sambolo / 66
The Woman Masseuses of Sambolo / 67
Bungy Boards / 68
Swimming / 69
Magyar Face / 70
Dreaming of Russia / 71
Moscow Theatre: October 23, 2002 / 72
We Have Arrived / 73