Mid Term Assignment - Ways of Reading - Lipi Katiha

Mid Term Assignment - Ways of Reading

Lipi Katiha

S173ISD09

School of Design

1. Write two poems, each in the voice of any historical or mythological character of your choice. You may want to choose a particular moment in that character's life and attempt to explore how they would respond to that moment

Answer:

1. Savitribai Phule (1831 - 1897) was the first female teacher in India. In 1848, she became the first ever Indian to establish a school for the female population. On her way to the school, people used to harass her. My poem is based on the thoughts which would have emerged in Savitribai’s mind during that period of time.

Radiant Future

Shoot stones at me, if you want,

Splash mud at me, if you want.

My vision

shall stay

unharmed;

My resolution

shall succeed

unbroken.

You are upset, am I the reason why?

You are unhappy, are my girls the reason why?

You are furious, is woman education the reason why?

You are fuming, is gender equal future the reason why?

A radiant day awaits

when girls will stand strong

independent

of their class and gender

bold and free, below no offender.

2. After defeating Raavan, Ram returned to Ayodhya and was crowned as the King. By listening to what his subjects in Ayodhya were talking about Sita being at a stranger’s (man) house for a long period of time, Ram ended up leaving her. My poem is based on the thoughts of Sita after her separation with Ram.

But, why?

I was abandoned by you

Can someone let me know my errors

without overlooking

my terrors

that I gathered

while sacrificing myself to you.

When your stepmom sent you to exile,

I quit my comfortable lifestyle

not listening to anyone's advice;

Was it not enough of a sacrifice?

When your argument with Raavan's sister grew gory

I became the prey of her fury

and hence, I paid the price;

Was it not... enough of a sacrifice?

"A woman plays endless roles"; I performed them all

yet your subjects talked foul...

And your dialogues got tense

and even then, you did not come for my defence?

You failed to shoulder a husband's responsibility,

you looked down at me with no respect.

I was too good at the role of acceptability

even when you treated me like an object.

4. Choose any two objects in your field of vision. Write two poems that rely primarily on describing these two objects respectively. 

Ans:

1. The Rose in My Garden

that rose

that pink rose in the morning,

reminds me of

that mini human

that ate the fresh strawberry cotton candy

smiling, dressed up like a dandy.

that rose

that pink rose in the afternoon,

reminds me of

that young human

that is about to walk down the aisle

adorned with cherry blossoms

while he, decked up in a champagne pink tuxedo of today's style

and buddies around cheering him with high bosoms.

that rose

that pink rose in the evening,

reminds me of

that old human

that is taking a stroll in the rose park

greeting his grandbuds planted in the soil

he pats them with a bright spark,

his pink kurta embellished with silver foil

offers camouflage to his cheeks

which turn pink mingled with his silver hair streaks.

2. My Pet Dog

Scanning through my vulnerable self,

my dog came to my rescue

With his sharp teeth out

he pounced on to the foe.

His long and stabbing nails

were fixed on to the rival,

Staring at the opponent

with those daunting,

blazing eyes

made him appear as if he was fire himself.

Even his brown fur

looked blood red at this vicious second.

His roar was as loud as

a thunderclap which wakes me up on a rainy night.

Is it my pet dog?

It is my pet dog,

who had turned into a wild being,

a lion to shield me.

5. Write two poems that are triggered by news events within the last six months.   

Ans: 

1. The poem below is based on the 11 membered family group suicide in Burari, New Delhi on 30th June, 2018. 

Go Away, Evil!

is this country truly independent?

not physically but mentally too?

how can one undoubtedly say so...

when the superstitious evil has its grip tight upon us...

the people shower it with cosmic faith,

cosmic money and cosmic time.

Aah, and now even the cosmic limits are broken

as people shower it with their own lives.

are you happy now? are you content?

taking away the lives of 11 innocent earthlings

all at once,

convincing them that it is for their welfare,

could you not have been kinder, or milder?

go away evil!

Go Away!

GO!

2. The poem below is based on the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case which happened in August, 2018.

Trapped Innocence

their innocence was trapped

their screams were trapped, too.

the tears dried

yet the eyes could not let the painful memories hide

the reality of the absence of a guardian

who would protect the innocence.

In today's time,

can they not be trusted,

they, who swore to protect innocence...

how did the innocence endure,

how did the innocence bear,

while India has gone ballistic,

Muzaffarpur is crying a river.