I Am Who I Am
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Ha! A Princess in ancient times - my first name XXXXXXXX!
Imagine, in a male-dominated society, how blessed was I to be thus
Welcomed!
Friends would not hesitate to label me as an introvert,
but also focused, dreamer, and spiritual.
sister of Sagarika, another exotic name...
a nymph from the ocean world,
and lovingly cocooned by three brothers - Saibal, Prabal, Tamal
Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandma - tasted all roles in life....
Fortunate to grow up among nature's blessings, a hamlet of peace,
No wonder, fell in love with mesmerizing poetry, art, and surreal music.
My spirituality is acceptance, humility and thankfulness
My mother's empathy stronger in me than all other traits.
What do I fear? of course - nightmares of losing my voice,
and not being able to sing (like Little Mermaid in Fairy Tales)!
getting hurt by selfishness and losing confidence!
dream of a world with Kindness and Justice for underprivileged,
a world of equal opportunities for all children - and empowering all women,
Vibrant, culturally rich, aspiring city of Mississauga, Ontario, is my abode,
My last name *** reminds of omnipotent sun-god.
Notes: meanings of words (names) in Bengali:
Saibal- Moss
Probal - Coral
Tamal - Divine Tree
POSTSCRIPT TO MY BIO
I am a girl who decided to go to school barefoot, because that’s what other young children from needy families in a village were used to…
I am a girl whose best childhood memory is playing with sapphire waves on a tranquil seaside and listening to chimes soaring from a temple…
I am a girl who read novels every afternoon to comfort her fragile grandmother critically ill suffering with deadly cancer…
A girl who sent the domestic help to school, and taught the boy language and math whenever she could...in a country where that was unheard of…
I am a girl who started teaching with lot of work and very little pay even though her husband earned a handsome salary, enough to live a life of comfort…
A girl who passionately attended a craft class in an unfavourable, almost scary, situation in a country where women did not drive and travel by themselves…
I am that girl who renewed her passions and started writing with a goal of being published, at the mature age when she completed all her family responsibilities…
Notes: wondering…isn’t this postscript my real bio!!!!
July 28, 2021
Inspired By "This Is Who I Am" Poetry contest
Sponsor: L. Milton Hankins
A Brian Strand "You Choose" Poetry Contest
Copyright © Malabika Ray Choudhury | Year Posted 2021
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