I am a Woman by Pravat Kumar Padhy, The Magic Pen Press, 2023,
paperback, 60 pages, ISBN: 978-1-8380312-8-2, £ £6.50 (incl. p&p)
from johngonzalez@hotmail.co.uk
As I sat reading I
am a Woman my wife glanced over and read one of the
tanka. She asked if she could take a closer look and it was some while
before she gave the book back. This is testament to the power of this
fascinating work.
The book is a celebration of womanhood and follows the life of a
particular woman. I was specifically struck by the joyousness of her early
years.
hide and seek
like the moon and clouds
papa plays with her
fondly pretends to hide
till he confirms she scores a win
And her parent’s
sacrifices ...
they toil hard
for earning an extra
to brighten her life
they wish
to witness smiles on her face
Then comes the moment when she boards the school bus with her parents
eagerly watching ‘till the bird goes out of their sight.’ And similarly, years
later
she remembers
the thick tears of her parents
she steps out with blessings
with her umbilical cord still intact
for an extended home with someone else
Despite her hopes and times when ‘everything looks to glitter’ ... ‘slowly
there is a change’ and sadness and loneliness looms. Here the tanka takes
on a reflective quality.
she recalls
jumping with joy
hand in hand
with her mummy
clasping to catch the sky
I am a Woman is beautifully imagined. It is a story of a life, its
complexities, joys, hopes, sorrows and resilience. As I read, I was
thoroughly absorbed (and my wife was too!)
Pravat Kumar Padhy, who resides in Bhubaneswar, India, has many
publications and awards to his credit and is also Haibun Editor of the
online journal ‘Under the Basho’. Published by The Magic Pen Press, I
am a Woman is a splendid, well-produced publication with verse that
resonates and tells what is a richly layered story.
‘... life is a poem and music a journey’
I am a Woman – what a journey it tells.
Highly recommended.
-Neil Somerville
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