Image below, third from bottom - from painting by Jackie Berkeley
Poetry
Shadow
A Poem by INNI KAUR
Is there any place,
To call my own.
Is there any thought,
I can own.
Shackled through centuries
At the mercy of man.
I, a woman
Am a shadow.
Burnt alive.
Stoned to death.
Sold at bazaars.
Whipped at whim.
I question
This miserable existence?
But
No one hears my plea.
Eons go by,
I'm still in this rut.
The burning,
The stoning,
Has not stopped.
I resign.
And accept my fate.
I, a woman
Am, a shadow.
Never to be seen,
Never to be heard.
This is my fate,
This is my existence.
Weary,
Desperate,
Exhausted.
I take the final step.
To eradicate myself,
From this existence.
I break the shackles,
Slip into the night,
Not knowing how to end
This miserable life.
But -
That night
Amidst despair,
I hear ...
The Divine Melody.
The Melody is hypnotic,
I'm drawn towards it.
I walk,
Towards the Sound.
Not knowing,
What to expect?
I see a man.
Is it a man?
He sees me.
But makes no move.
I keep my distance,
I am unsure.
He speaks -
I howl.
Like a wounded animal,
I fall to the ground.
Ik Oankar
The Word,
Penetrates my soul.
Centuries of shackles,
Loosen their hold.
"You are a spark of the Divine Light
Recognize your worth."
I weep
And
I wail.
Me, a nothing,
Me, a nobody,
Has within,
A spark of Divinity.
Tears subside,
I'm filled with wonder.
The Divine Melody continues ...
I'm surrounded with Light
Every pore of my being
Is filled with this Light.
Your womb is the cradle,
That gives births to kings.
Your love is pure,
It nurtures the saints.
You, my child,
Are not unclean.
Unclean are the eyes,
That see you in that light.
I melt
At
Every word.
Amrit flows.
I glow.
You are not a commodity,
You are not a property.
You are a spark of Divinity,
Recognize your worth.
I give you the name Kaur,
It belongs to you.
Stand tall, my child,
I am with you.
That moment,
I transcend.
March 10, 2010
Conversation about this article
1: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), March 10, 2010, 1:09 PM.
Uplifting! I wish this light upon my sisters around the world who are still stoned, burnt, beaten ... When will you touch them, O' Baba Nanak?
2: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), March 10, 2010, 5:06 PM.
Or should I say, when will you touch the men, O' Baba Nanak?
3: I.J. Singh (New York, U.S.A.), March 10, 2010, 5:18 PM.
Let me, a token male, here acknowledge this poem that must but touch all those who read it. Thank you, Inni. Much appreciated.
4: Ruby Kaur (Chappaqua, U.S.A.), March 10, 2010, 7:52 PM.
Simply uplifting and beautiful. It truly touches the soul in a very sweet, and powerful way. Thank you, Inni ji.
5: Anita (India), March 11, 2010, 5:33 AM.
Written straight from the heart! I can only pray for those who still suffer and are victimized in this era of 'liberation'.
6: Sarla Parikh (Guilford, U.S.A.), March 11, 2010, 10:24 AM.
Absolutely remarkable and so touching! Women must unite and show their light ... there's no time to wait, no time to waste. We are, as Inni Kaur says, the light from our Divine, the Light itself! Peace, peace, peace!
7: Preeti (India), March 13, 2010, 9:50 AM.
Very very touching!
8: Dale Pauls (Stamford, CT, U.S.A.), March 18, 2010, 12:45 PM.
A truly wonderful piece. May it circulate widely, and be read deeply!