Poetry
“ਰ”
Raraa
A Poem by FELICIA KAUR JODHKA
my
ancestor’s tongue is a lioness
who proudly reaches up to
caress the roof of my mouth —
1 centimeter behind my two front teeth
ਰ (raraa) is her roar —
a story of her
struggle, truth, and sacrifice
that is set free into the wind
to
beat on the drums of ears
for generations to come
* * * * *
they ask of
me:
tell us a story of your ancestors
my native
tongue instinctually prows proudly for the roof of my mouth —
1 centimeter
behind my two front teeth
but, instead, I roll her back in
shame
And sheepishly let out a murmuring purrrrrrrr
deafening
the poignant edges of her roar
relinquishing
resigning
renouncing
her struggle, her sacrifice, her truth
Leaving me one
letter speech-less.
— from ਪੈਂਤੀ
(painti) to ਚੌਂਤੀ (chhatee)
April 8, 2019