canada

Announcement: My City My Six

I am very honoured and pleased to announce that one of my stories was chosen as part of the City of Toronto’s My City My Six contest.

The contest asked for stories that described Toronto in 6 words or less. It was run as part of Canada’s 150 anniversary and organized by the City of Toronto.

I am still in a bit of a shock to be included as one of the 150 stories chosen from 4,000 entries. The stories will be shared at various public locations throughout the city.  from a diverse pool, to represent the city that…

It fulfills a dream of mine that I was able to capture in words the heart of the city that…

I love
was my refugee
and is my home.

So if you are in and around Toronto, make sure to check out the launch event on September 27, 2017:

Reception: September 27, 5 – 7 p.m.
City Hall Rotunda, 100 Queen St. W.

The exhibit will be on at City Hall from Sept 25 – 28, before going to different parts of the city. Exhibit details can be found here.

Thank you to the City of Toronto and the Jury for this opportunity to share my view of Toronto.

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34/2017: Death of the Rain Maker

I constantly live in a state of “it’s better than…”

It’s better than nothing
It’s better than death
It’s better than there
It’s better than…
here

I don’t want to live
comparing myself to those
who are seen to be failing.
I want to fly higher than
the expectations I gave myself
when I dreamed in secret
and imagined I was…

Druga
Cleopatra
Superwoman
Mata Hari
and Rosa Parks
all in one.

I was the change maker,
the beacon in the night,
that none would cross for
fear of being burned by my light.
I held the world in my hand
and commanded the will of men.
Demanding they be better –
we be better.
Instead, I exist…

in a place that is better than…

© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy

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Image from Pixabay: Artist – Flachovatereza https://pixabay.com/en/users/Flachovatereza-448286/

Day 320: Hey, White Person

I refuse to let the politics of fear,
begin to divide the love between us.
So much has happened this past year,
I get the sway of a blank canvas.

Sometimes the choices may seem unclear,
but really what’s left of justice?
Is your view from my shoes, sincere?
Or is it easy to pretend to be blameless?

I choose to think this is a smear,
a move to spin the emotional axis,
until we believe things so severe,
that all people are only their bias.

I know you are more than fear,
and not some words that are faceless.
Because you also have a conversation to steer,
in unmasking the myth of progress.

© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy

AN: A response to these posters that have started showing up across East York part of the City of Toronto.  

Also on another note – sometimes it takes a community to write a poem:) Thank you to Janny, Jenn, Manimolie, Sandra and Wendy, for always having insight and answering my many many many questions! 

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Day 310: Snow

How many generations until my brown skin turns white as snow?
My black hair golden, shining in the summer’s sun,
my brown eyes the shade of the Kokanee glacial waters reflecting the sky
my Canadian born accent, the same as my Canadian neighbor
my words English and not Tamlish
How many generations before I am Canadian?

© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy

AN: My second submission for CBC – There were 4 poem in total that were submitted under the title Identity.