}} I HAVE NOT CHOSEN THIS WORLD by Pradnya Daya Pawar |

Poetry at Sangam

SangamHouse

 










I HAVE NOT CHOSEN THIS WORLD by Pradnya Daya Pawar

Translated by Dileep V. Chavan

I have chosen
neither this world
nor this body
I have not even chosen
my face
smashed in a genocide

When did I choose
my mercilessly destroyed language?
A complete sentence with
intense utterances
hidden behind my lips?

When did I choose
the raping of my body
and the eternal pain
of the morass of abortion?
When did I choose
this eternal
blood-splattered road?

This body
which has suffered innumerable strokes
is stitched of thousands of pieces
which tear apart the present
carding the beaten cotton
of dreams

I have neither chosen
this world
nor this body
Yet, I wish to make life beautiful
and in all humility
I will flaunt them instead of mangalsutra1
on my breast

 

  1. 1. Mangalsutra: An auspicious thread that Hindu groom ties around the bride’s neck on the day of their marriage.

 
 

PRADNYA DAYA PAWAR