Artwork by Aisha Rajar. Courtesy: ArtChowk The Gallery
(1205 – 1240)
Your aura lies intact
Unlike your fate
Your life was a nightmare
Between two lovers
Your death is a rumour
Of two graves
No man
Endured your father’s wish
They felt accursed having a sultan
With breasts
They dreamt of being the sword
In your bed
Your love for a slave
Poured ash over the ignoble
Jealousy of nobles
Your amulet could not save your life
From two men
You inspired against yourself
Your friend pursued your sex
And your brother
Drove you towards death
For them your sex
And your death was the same thing.
~ Manash Bhattacharjee
Manash Bhattacharjee is a poet and writer based in New Delhi. His poems have appeared in ‘First Proof: The Penguin Book of New Writing from India’ (Volume 5), The New Welsh Review, The Fortnightly Review, and a number of other international magazines. His first collection of poetry, ‘Ghalib’s Tomb and Other Poems’ (2013), was published by The London Magazine.
