POETIC VIEWS : Williamsji Maveli

BEYOND THE RED
“You translated a saga in your sindoor.
To uphold a tradition of an eternal bond.
How beautiful is this deep crimson color
You twinning the same color in your saree too.
A deep potrayel of a potrait of yourself
In what you called a celestial love .
A tradition you tirelessly tread upon
Day after day
Years passed on.
Your core colored in shades of different reds
Your fury, your sadness, your compassion all said
How could they ever look pale
In contrast to what you withheld.
To let out a cathartic cry
Is to stir within you a new revolution.
Liberate and feel free
This time
Perhaps
You choose not a crimson
But you want to drape
In a shade of freedom
Unchained and unshackled
From a conventional patriarchy. “
Copyright tp Poet & Artist Anju Kapoor (Bahrain)
POETIC VIEWS:
Anju Kapoor's poem explores the complexities of womanhood within the confines of tradition and patriarchy. The poem uses the vivid imagery of sindoor, a traditional Indian red powder worn by married women, as a metaphor for the woman's life, bound by societal expectations.
The initial stanzas paint a picture of a woman deeply entrenched in tradition. The sindoor, symbolizing her marital status and commitment, is a "saga" translated onto her forehead, a testament to an "eternal bond." The repetition of the color red, in both the sindoor and saree, reinforces the idea of her identity being defined by this traditional role.
However, the poem takes a dramatic turn as the woman's internal world begins to emerge. The "deep potrayal of a potrait of herself" suggests a carefully constructed facade, a mask she wears to conform to societal expectations. The "different shades of red" in her core symbolize the complex emotions she suppresses – fury, sadness, compassion – all muted by the dominant hue of tradition.
The climax of the poem arrives with the call for liberation. The woman desires a "cathartic cry," a release from the constraints of her role. The final stanzas envision a radical shift – a rejection of crimson in favor of a "shade of freedom." This is a powerful assertion of individuality and a yearning to break free from the shackles of patriarchy.
Anju Kapoor's poem is a feminist critique that uses symbolism and imagery to delve into the psychological and emotional complexities of a woman trapped in tradition. It is a call for empowerment and a celebration of the human spirit's resilience in the face of oppressive norms.-WILLIAMSJI MAVELI