Frozen

The silken web, wispy clouds

I close my eyes deep in thoughts

A poem poised, my unwritten life

Doubts abound, four lines, words

Hang in a haze, a metaphorical cord

To immigrate to the life of my

Childhood, as images freeze in time.

Village

Lush green paddy fields edged with palm trees

villagers bent over soggy sun-baked fields

lunch was under the shade of a tree, Kanji with a chilli

dusk saw them, cooking over an open fire stove

pots of clay bubbling with simple fare that they could afford

a hut with no electricity, they sat in the light of the stars

the breath of their ancestors in the swaying palms

memories and history faded like rice paper

dissolved in the sheets of monsoon rains.

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Leela Soma was born in Madras, India and now lives in Glasgow. Her poems and short stories have been published in a number of anthologies, publications. She has published two novels and two collections of poetry. She has served on the Scottish Writer's Centre Committee and is now in East Dunbartonshire Arts & Culture Committee.  Some of her work reflects her dual heritage of India and Scotland. Pushcart Prize 2020, nominee.