‘Merely an exhalation’

Circumstances

have slapped down a suit

on the burning thoughts in my mind!

They’ve put all burning minds

in custody.

Incarcerated

all gardens of dreams.

But how long can this bird

remain in thei dungeon

whose very walls tremble

with his very exhalation?

Translated from by Marathi by Shanta Gokhale, this poem is featured in Poisoned Bread: Translations From Modern Marathi Dalit Literature. For those interested in this neglected body of work, this collection is great!

Last week, I saw a fantastic talk on Dalit literature in Malayalam. The speaker frequently referred to No Alphabet in Sight: New Dalit Writing From South India, edited by K. Satyanarayana and Susie Tharu, which is supposedly one of the most comprehensive resources for this largely unnoticed body of literature. I can’t wait to get my hands on this collection!