Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Hariyali Teej



If my grandmother

could have her way,

she wouldn’t 

let our lady sweeper Dulari 

enter the kitchen 

Or even clean her room.

Admonishment by our father,

veiled criticism by mom,

and outright revolt by us

led us nowhere but to

a blind or rather deaf alley. 

But as the skies filled

with dark pregnant clouds 

promising to slake the thirst

Of the earth and even 

our very parched hearts, 

We could see our Amma

giggling like a small girl, 

sharing ghevar with Dulari, 

getting intricate henna patterns 

drawn on her hand and feet

enjoying the courtyard swing 

on the day of Hariyali Teej.

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