Poetry at Sangam
Poetry at Sangam showcases poetry in English and translations as well as essays on poetics and news of new releases.
A person’s appearance can fool the passerby.
One look at me and you’d be right to say
That I’m an Indian. But I didn’t stay
A citizen; I chose a green card instead.
American ways are quite efficient, which led
Me down its path. They say the Indian life
Is simple — it’s not! Just filled with different strife
Than here. They live a poor existence there.
I’ve lived a poor existence everywhere.
My tenure is great but it doesn’t make me rich.
I’ve asked both my girls to find their niche
But find it where the good money will be.
Being a Brahmin never did help me.
I never cared for Hinduism’s embrace.
And organized religion is a disgrace.
The work it takes is worth the piece of pie.
A person’s appearance can fool the passerby.
The work it takes is worth the piece of pie.
For many years I’ve fought for equal rights
For immigrants. Politics turn out their lights
Without regret or a single ounce of shame.
These poor people are poor as well and blame
No one, it seems. It made me mad for years,
How politicians preyed on other’s fears.
But I found the spirit in yoga, the path to peace.
I’m a practicing Hindu now, a place to release
The past. I’ve stayed the course for years and now
I teach the lessons my guru taught me. How
To dissolve the simple frustrations every day.
The texts will say a Christian can never pray
The Hindu way. So what! Who cares? It’s just
The ancient mindset. My guru’s the one I’ll trust.
A person’s appearance can fool the passerby.
The work it takes is worth the piece of pie.
(Excerpted from the book-length poem Principles of Belonging.)
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