A Poem A Day by Manivillie Kanagasabapathy
The slope of your shoulders,
and downward lines on your face,
may speak to a life seemingly defeated.
But the eyes that gaze with
such fervor, remind me that our
endings are not yet determined.
So square your shoulders,
take a breath, and
write the story in your eyes.
© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy
They pull at your coat
a way to drag you
down and back,
place you safely
in your box.
If only they could
remove the garment
of power you wear.
But what they don’t
understand is you
do not wear power,
you are the strength
of the universe made flesh.
They cannot rip it from you.
It is trying to claim
Air from the skies,
It surrounds you,
fluid and life-giving.
Freely shared to all,
who dare to breathe deeply.
© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy
AN: Apologies for the repost- hit post instead of save by mistake. Thank you
Just because I have scars on my body
Does not mean I started the fights
Or that I lost them.
© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy
My first step was broken,
a stumble, a misstep,
suddenly falling down,
I stared at ground,
finding comfort in the warm earth.
Tucked in a blanket of grass,
I found comfort,
letting the trees of knowledge
take root.
My next step was messy,
the half starts and tangled roots.
Shaking of the earth that had
protected me.
Keeping tight hold on gems,
found in the darkest recesses
of my heart and mind,
crystalized reflections
of time and experience.
Each step that followed
pulled my foot from the dark
clay that held on.
All moment staggering
but every step loosening
the fears that buried me,
until they became dust
on my boots.
As my steps became lighter,
I began to move,
run so fast and so far,
that my dreams had to catch
up to me.
© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy
I wish I could lock you in my heart,
Protect you within these gilded walls,
So that you feel no pain, no fear, no terror,
All you would be surrounded by is the strength of my love,
Titanium strong and unbreakable.
But gilded walls are still cages,
And one day, I will still have to let you fly
Hoping that your wings have the strength
I see in you.
© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy
I am blessed
For I have many sisters.
Sisters of the blood,
Herstory linked to mine
Through generations of love and sacrifice.
Her name surrendered to family lines,
A ghostly presence which weaves the family story.
Sisters of the soul,
Who chose to connect their story to mine
Trusting I will remember,
That life existed before they became
Daughters, wives and mothers.
Sisters of the body,
Defined and bound by words
Of who we should be
And not who we are.
Sisters I have yet to meet,
Their voices and lives,
Reflected in the eyes,
Of my strong and wise sisters.
© Manivillie Kanagasabapathy
