Literature has always been subjective and poetry even more so. In addition to being open to multiple interpretations, poems have the power to take up any form we project upon them due to the amalgamation of our different past experiences. Some of these experiences have coloured our perception of the world around us, some might have shaped our own personalities and few others seeped into our works - unintentionally marking them as ours. Perhaps this is why poetry can be both extremely personal and yet universal at the same time.
In this book, Urvashi explores themes of nationalism, misogyny, racism, gender inequality, hypocrisy among other social injustices. But what is really interesting is how her poems address each issue while juxtaposing them against the local and global scenario. There are poems that talk about women's spirit of resilience as a collective and then there are some others which attempt to highlight the consequences of the pandemic at a whole. Be it the effect of isolation on mental health or the result of prolonged quarantine leading to lesser social interactions, these subjects are all quite relevant and relatable to most of us.
The book also has small illustrations at the beginning of each section that serves to differentiate between the various sub-topics that were covered in it. While some of the poems may come off as a little obscure or vague, to the point of even slightly predictable due to the use of a common language, it adds to the mystery of the persona featured in these works. Indeed, there are also a few chosen poems that would definitely leave quite a lasting impact on the reader. Urvashi sensitively and deftly plays with complex ideas such as immigration as well as human rights. Her voice seems to turn into a clarion call for other coloured women to come out and speak up.
Overall, the anthology helps us confront some of the most pressing issues faced by coloured women all over the world and inspires people to do the same. It is thought provoking and certain lines keep resonating in our minds long after we have finished reading the book. Another important point to note would be, a few poems referring foreign cultural practices were lacking footnotes to help understand these terms. Some of my personal favourites were 'On Turtles and Women', 'Patterns', 'Margin of Error', 'Great Expectations' and 'Colourism'.
