Monica Lewis

In the Land of Sand and Sea

In the land of sand and sea,
There is a temple,
Without a shadow.
I will enter the temple, despite, despite.
In the land of sand and sea,
God leaves the holy shrine,
In auspicious ceremony,
Promising return.
At the centre of the shrine,
There is a woman.
The temple is hers as it is theirs.
But among the devotees,
There is shadow.
Once married, she must stay there.
Her own home is not for her to stay.
Her feet of return are unwelcomed.
She must face it, be there.
Her brothers are heirs,
But she, an omen.
In the land of sand and sea,
Brothers and sister, stand together.
There is a woman in the temple.
There is no shadow.
So I can enter the temple, despite, despite.
It is my second day,
But I will enter the temple anyway.
It is mine as it is theirs.

Monica Louis

Monica Louis is a Student of M.A. in English, St. Xavier’s College Kolkata