Blog Archive

Thursday, February 27, 2020

The Women You Knew



Hello readers,

Some of us met during the first blog hop of this decade and shared stories about the past decade. This time, I decided to take the safe route by writing a poem for the theme 'The Woman That I Am'.

I
Was life always colorless?
Where did the soft glow of the yellow go?
The rusty lamp in her wrinkled hands
Failed to bring back the shades of her youth
The ruby on her old finger
Resembled a lifeless onyx in the moonless night.

Where did the years go?
How did she let the world
Take away her love for life?
Questions swirled around,
Colder than the winter chill
Demanding an answer
She was now determined to find.

One day soon, she told the darkness
The lamp would sparkle
And so would her smile.
Let the world watch-
Eyes wide in wonder,
Heads hung in shame,
At the bygone life of a woman
At the unseen layers of women
Who gave and gave and gave.



II
The waves crashed at her feet
A flurry of white and azure
Rolling over the golden sand
Mesmerized by the life she led,
The adventures she had
The smiles she shared.

The years of her childhood
A distant yet vivid memory;
A shepherd girl with dreams in her eyes
Flashed through her veins
To flow into the sea.

She wanted to know-
To learn, to live, and to love
So she fought, ran, and won
To prove that she could.

The waves crashed faster,
Eager to unravel
The secret of her strength
That settled forever
In the stubborn set of her shoulders.



III
Cheers & claps, bouquets & best wishes-
Gifted, blessed, and lucky, they gushed
The dance was her talent, they said
The dance, they did not know was her soul
Passion, madness, and devotion, she sighed
The words stuck in her throat.

Assured by the breeze surrounding her
She let the ready applause of the world
Sink into the rising tide
As the graceful movements on the stage
Gave way to a gay abandon on the cliffs.

She would dance to no one's tune,
Said the fire that burned in her heart.


IV
How long, she wondered
Eyes intent on the trodden path
Did she carry the weight of her family;
Sometimes pots, sometimes baskets,
And debts every time of the day.

Walking through the fields, banks, and sands
Braving the sun, rain, and wind
Until the day she heard from a sister-
'The day you stop is the day they learn.' 


Now she sat there on the wall
Ready at last to teach her child
Before the burden shrunk her into oblivion,
The same lesson she chose to ignore.


V
The magic of the wise woman worked
The lamp began to glow again;
Flickering a faint amber glow
To drive away the black & white
Bringing the divine rays of hope.



Reflecting in the depth of her eyes
The realization sparkled anew
What would the world have been
If she wasn't the woman she was?


**********

Paintings Credit: Ratna Pochiraju 
(Ratna aunty, your paintings have always been inspiring me. This post belongs to you as much as it belongs to me.)


 “This post is a part of ‘The Woman That I Am’ Blog Hop #TheWomanThatIAm organized by Rashi Roy and Manas Mukul #RRxMM” 




115 comments:

  1. Wow... such impactful and beautifully written lines. Loved reading it.

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  2. Seivalli, Before the poetry, I must confess that ultimate piece of art took all my attention, INCREDIBLE PAINTINGS, now coming to the poetry, how brilliantly you have woven the Durga Roop of a womanhood in the form of poem, who balanced her emotions and strongness, so perfectly throughout the life. Loved it!!!


    Archana Srivastava

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    1. Srivalli...sorry correction in name spell🙏

      Archana Srivastava

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    2. Thank you so much, Archana. :)
      I'm equally in love with the paintings. They are my inspiration for the poem.

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  3. What would the world have been If she wasn't the woman she was ? The ending summarises it all. Lovely poem and lovely paintings. Ruchi Nasa https://thevagabond.me

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  4. She will dance on no one's tune, the day you stop is the day you learn. To get her divine face and Hope's back. Beautifully beautifully expressed and great learning from your post. And the paintings are amazing and well explained.
    Jyoti Arora @heartspeaksbyjd.wordpress.com

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    1. Thank you so much, Jyoti. :)
      The paintings are my favorite too.

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  5. What powerfully penned lines! The journey of the woman is artfully portrayed in your words and the best part of the piece are the paintings which go perfectly in tandem with the words. Superb!

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    1. Thank you so much, Surbhi. :)
      The paintings inspired the poem.

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  6. Wow! Amazing poem! very heart-touching and serene. Meaningful lines beautifully illustrated with lovely paintings. Loved it!

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  7. Every line of this poem conveys a thousand emotions. The power tempered by infinite patience, that is a woman. I love the beautiful illustrations you have all along the page. did you do them yourself? superb!

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    1. Thank you so much, Brinda. :)
      I wish I was as talented. They belong to Mrs Ratna, a friend.

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  8. This is such a powerful poem Seivalli. And the complete post looks like a river flowing with those images around. May I use your lines in my latest office woman empowerment post? I will surely credit your for lines. Read it twice and in love with each para truly!

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  9. Powerful, beautiful,wonderful amazing, I am falling short of adjectives to describe your poem. It is such an emotional and strong poem. I am totally in awe. Wow
    Deepika Sharma

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    1. Thank you so much, Deepika. It means a lot to me. :)

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  10. Such a great work of art and literature intertwined with a glow of hope. First of all, a big salute to this great artist! I bow to her first portraying women so beautifully, so gracefully. Coming to your poem, it was such a poem that seemed like speaking my silence in heart. How deep, intense and so much in less. Really enjoyed a lot. Immense respect for you ma'am. More power to you.

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    1. Thank you so much, Swarnali. It was great getting to know you better. :)
      You made my day (that day and today). <3

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  11. Oh, the paintings are breathtaking. Every word of your poetry is the rhythm of life. Every reader has or her perspective to me it was awakening, self-awareness and realisation self-worth. It radiates a simple message grow old in skin but be the fire of life always
    Urvashi #damurureads

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    1. Thank you so much, Urvashi. You got the theme bang on. :)
      Yeah, I love the paintings too.

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  12. Wow such powerful poem and the paintings are awesome. Your poem reflects on the struggle of woman who has gone through a tragedy in life and finally how she learns to rise out of it and prove herself. Loved it.

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  13. Amazing. The journey of a woman Beautifully portrayed through painting and poetry.

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    1. Thank you so much, Amarjeet. :) You have a powerful name.

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  14. What a powerful and beautiful post and I just loved the paintings. What would the world have been if she was not the woman she was. I loved the line. How well you have written about the struggles of a woman and how she can fight against all odds.

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    1. Thank you so much, Arushi. :)
      They are beautiful paintings, I agree.

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  15. Srivalli,

    You have beautifully woven art and poetry together in this post. For me, this was about different women who define facets of being a woman. I identified most with the second and third one.

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    1. Thank you so much, Namrata. :)
      Yes, it is about different women, each with a past of their own. You got it right.

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  16. Srivalli....oflate I got the opportunity to read your poetry...and I thoroughly enjoy the subtle abstractness and strong insinuations in them...loved reading this one...words of s strong womsm.. congratulations

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    1. Thank you so much, Deepti. :)
      It makes me very happy to know that you enjoy my poems. <3

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  17. Wonderful poem Srivalli. I loved the way you phased the poem and how you arranged the pictures alongside. This couldn't have been better. Kudos to your post :)
    -- rightpurchasing.com

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    1. Thank you so much, Sundeep. :)
      The paintings inspired the poem. I wanted readers to see the source of my inspiration.

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  18. The poem is so so impactful. The paintings add the perfect flavour to it.. The poem had such powerful emotions that towards the end I had goosebumps. Maa Durga couldn't have been shaped and described better.

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    1. Thank you so much, Supriti. :)
      I wanted readers to leave the page feeling as powerful as Maa Durga (or Linga Bhairavi as in the painting).

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    2. And u did complete justice to it. :)

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  19. Srivalli, I've been reading your works for a very long time and I love them all. You can weave magic with words. So needless to say, this one is brilliant too. And amazing images to go with your lines.

    Janaki@beyondthefamiliar

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    1. Thank you so much, Janaki. I'm truly happy to know that you enjoy my works. It's the greatest compliment for a writer. <3

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  20. Awesome paintings . Give my wishes to your Aunty . Coming to poetry , you have written very powerful lines . I loved the line- the day you stop is the day they learn

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    1. Thank you so much, Monika. :)
      I'll convey your wishes to her.

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  21. You have beautifully portrayed each emotions of women with utmost grace and vigor through your poetry ,but I must confess your Aunt's pictures were the cherry on the cake, loved them. Very beautiful. Great to connect with you.

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    1. Thank you so much, Priyanka. :)
      Oh, yes. She steals the show. I'm happy about it. :D

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  22. Such a beautiful narrative woven in verse, and such evocative paintings to go with it. This reminded me of some of the longer poems by the Romantics.

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    1. Thank you so much, Pooja. :)
      I had a similar concept in mind.

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  23. So beautiful...I just wanted this poem to continue. And, it was amazing to know that the paintings are not from some site rather done by someone close to you. You are so gifted!!

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    1. Thank you so much, Nina. :) You made my day.
      Anytime I want some inspiration, I turn to her works.

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  24. Beautifully penned, Srivalli. The words just flowed. I particularly loved the line "What would the world have been If she wasn't the woman she was?".

    The paintings just elevated your writing. My best wishes to your aunt.

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    1. Thank you so much, Ritu. :)
      Will convey them to her.

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  25. This is a fantastic set of poems which shows the hard work and dedication of the artist...
    I must appreciate for the selection of words as well as the pictures associated with them...
    Stay blessed...

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    1. Thank you so much, Ramandeep. :)
      She loves to paint, and I love to write on them.

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  26. Wow, such a beautifully written poem.

    Last line completely said it all - What would the world have been, If she wasn't the woman she was?

    The word, the flow, the paintings are perfect.
    All the 5 verses just touched the soul.

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  27. Beautiful storytelling through poetry. I loved the way the mood changed with every para - from melancholy to exuberance. And the pictures aptly complemented the poem.

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  28. Simply wow!!!!Such an impactful display of woman through a beautiful collection of words..
    "One day soon, she told the darkness

    The lamp would sparkle

    And so would her smile."
    Such a brave and bold approach...Loved the poem to the core.. Great going..Best wishes for your future writing.. And yes the paintings were awesome..

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  29. What a poem so many literary devices at place to make it a master piece and as you strength of women always is an incredible thing 😊

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    1. Thank you so much, Sivaranjani :)
      Poetry is my first love.

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  30. First of all, I must say the blog has been designed very well. It has a professional touch to it. Very impactful poetry, as I was expecting. Each para has its own meaning and paintings only add to the overall impact. Keep up the great work. - Yatindra Tawde

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    1. Thank you so much, YT. :)
      I guess this is the first time you visited the blog.

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  31. Novemberschild (Romila)February 27, 2020 at 9:01 PM

    The paintings you included in the post Srivalli are just awesome.
    Huge respects to the painter. We are strong, confident and courageous. Contrary to the belief that this is a male-dominated world, we provide the foundation of power, grace, wisdom, justice, creativity, and hope to the world and make it a better place for everyone to live.

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    1. Thank you so much, Romila. :)
      I'll convey your wishes to her.

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  32. Beautiful lines but paintings spoke more than the words. You have beautifully arranged your words and paintings. The fusion was great. Beautiful tribute to an artist.

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    1. Thank you so much, Debidutta. :)
      Yes, the paintings add depth to the poem.

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  33. Beautiful lines but paintings spoke more than the words. You have beautifully arranged your words and paintings. The fusion was great. Beautiful tribute to an artist.

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  34. The waves crashed faster,
    Eager to unravel
    The secret of her strength
    That settled forever
    In the stubborn set of her shoulders.
    THESE LINES RESEMBLES ME I WAS IN TEARS WHEN I READ YOU BLOG JUST YOU WELL PENNED SOME MY LIFE WOUNDS THANK YOU KERP WRITING N KEEP SHINING

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    1. Thank you so much, Harshita. It means a lot to know that the lines touched you so close. <3 Hugs.

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  35. Srivalli you are amazing in poetry and this one is no different.l loved the idea about reminiscing life. Keep writing keep shining

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    1. Thank you so much, Zenobia. :) Your words made my day.

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  36. What a beautiful combination of poetry and art.Beautifully woven.Loved reading it.❤️

    Sangya Nagpal

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  37. You have penned such a beautiful poem, totally enjoyed reading this. I loved the painting.

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  38. Good the lamp flickered back to life. This happens to each of us. We lose all the hope, give it up and then something kindles the life force again. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful poem

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  39. The paintings are beautiful as are your words. Such a visually appealing read!
    Mayuri

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  40. Glad you stopped the pampering! "The day you stop is the day they learn." - So powerful!

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  41. This is one of the most beautiful poems I have read in a while. The emotions are vivid and words create a beautiful mental image. The accompanying paintings are most delightful. Can you send a link to the artist's work?

    Meena from balconysunrise.wordpress.com

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    1. Thank you so much, Meena. :) It means a lot to me.
      Sure. You can check her FB profile: https://www.facebook.com/ratna.pochiraju

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  42. Amazing poetry and lovely artwork - a great combination Srivalli!

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  43. This is so inspiring! loved the poem and the art!

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  44. And you spoke on behalf of all of us and how beautifully you shared what you shared. Each and every line was so much a story of each and every women I have met in my life and especially these,
    "How long, she wondered
    Eyes intent on the trodden path
    Did she carry the weight of her family;
    Sometimes pots, sometimes baskets,
    And debts every time of the day."


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    1. Thank you so much, dear.
      I've taken inspiration from the real-life incidents in the paintings. <3

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  45. You have a gift for evoking powerful imagery through your verse. It was a pleasure to read your poem as well as a visual treat to enjoy the paintings you have included.
    Noor Anand Chawla

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    1. Thank you so much, Noor. <3 You made my day. :D

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  46. Absolutely brilliant! The words and the paintings placed alongside are together making it highly impactful. Convey my regards to the artist, we are priviledged to have her art displayed here as a part of this blog hop. All thanks to you! You have an amazing talent of speaking of thousand emotions with so less words in verse. Am glad you are a part of this hop and shared this wonderful piece with us :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Rashi. <3 I'm happy to be a part of this blog hop.
      Will do for sure. I always turn to her works when in need of inspiration.

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  47. you got a fan dear, i am so impressed with poem narrating story. you are super talented. love every word of it.

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  48. Such a wonderful expression of struggle of a woman with great shining of beautiful art.loved it.

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  49. Beautiful paintings and perfect lines to go with them. Only a woman can understand what she does, how she lives and the silent sacrifices she makes. The weight she carries isn't always her own.

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    1. Thank you so much, Varsh. :)
      Very true. Only she knows what she puts up with.

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  50. Such a beautiful n thoughtful poetry about the woman.Proud to be a woman nd proud of you darling.My Wishes n blessings are always with you.

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    1. Thank you so much, Jaggo (I'm assuming that's a part of your name). :)

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  51. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  52. I am at a loss of words to praise this one. Every line is created so beautifully and better than the previous one. This is poetic creation at it's best and if that wasn't enough the paintings add the midas touch to this write up. So glad that you chose to join us in this journey. Big Hug.
    #RRxMM #TheWomanThatIAm

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    1. Thank you so much, Manas. I'm glad I joined the blog hop (thank you for messaging me that day). Poetry is my first love. :D

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  53. Such a beautiful way of presenting your poetry. It is beautiful and the art work is so apt and perfect. Loved your first poetry the most. It is so true that that with time everything fades. Wonderful presentation.

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  54. Beautiful poetries with amazing paintings. Loved reading every single poem.

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  55. An amazing piece of poetry.Loved the beautiful paintings.

    Sangya Nagpal

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  56. Beautiful paintings and equally thought provoking words. Womenfolk go through so much in a lifetime...

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  57. What a beautiful compilation Srivalli. The paintings and lines go hand in hand.

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