Poems
Here are a few of my favorite poems. Following which is a list of all my poetry publications.
The store is out
of raw broken cashews
which my mom always used.
I continued her tradition
even after moving to America
but Diwali is coming
my son desires
the diamond-shaped sweets.
My hubby purchased
the next best thing—
raw whole cashews.
Though they cost just a dollar more
they’ve been sitting in the pantry
for, try as I might,
I can't seem to crush them.
without caring for the actual peach
we’d wait for Ma
to break open the seed
she'd place it in her copper mortar
and pound it with the pestle.
Chutki, Dad, and I
surrounded her
like vultures, as she’d beg
for elbow room
if the pit of the peach
pried open, with the tiny almond
unbroken, she'd strike the pestle again
to divide the prize evenly
but none of us ever
gave her a share
eagerly awaited
finally
fireworks start at night
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absolutely mesmerizing
but in a flash
they were gone
although they brought us joy
I missed them terribly
when the smoke
floated away
i looked down from the sky
to the trees in the dark
majestic and tall
a small leftover spark
another flash there
silent flickering in joy
ah, fireflies
at work since twilight
I don't like empty vases populating my tiny house
but after uploading my listing of the car
I came across a blue Ming vase.
Not with its usual angry dragons
or homes that don’t tell a story
but lotus buds in white
over a base of soft cobalt
and meandering leafy stems
interspersed with occasional ears of millet
between bands of upright and pendent trefoils,
covered overall in a thick unctuous glaze.
I was sold. I sent an offer
which was accepted
in eleven minutes
and I found myself
in the car driving
the sixteen miles.
It came with a spider
who didn't respect vases.
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The Literary Hatchet​
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Poem “Things I Hate About Summer” is a fun list poem
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The Literary Hatchet is an independent international journal devoted to emerging and established voices crafting provocative short fiction and thoughtful poetry and prose. Published three times a year!
"Home" and "Pickled" in August 2025
Mom Egg Review
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Poem “My Infant's nails” about my little one's sharp nails and my life.
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MER promotes and celebrates the creative force of mother writers and artists through publications, performances, workshops, and online.
Twenty Two Twenty Eight
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Poem “Evergreen,” "In Case of Emergency" and "The Most Beautiful Thing" published here. I vividly remember the exact moment and process of Evergreen's creation; it carries some special energy that I hope reaches everyone who reads it.
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Madras Courier is the first paper established in the Madras Presidency, British India.
Madras Courier
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Poem “Where does Poetry Stay” captures how Poetry finds me.
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Madras Courier is the first paper established in the Madras Presidency, British India.
Roanoke Rambler
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Poem “The house is Soundless” depicts a scene of solitude and reflection in the aftermath of a relationship or a loss.
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RR is a local, investigative and literary newsletter and website based in Roanoke, Virginia.
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Heartland Society of Women Writers
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Poem “The Label” reflects on the speaker's experiences of being labeled and confined by societal norms and expectations, starting from a very young age.
HSWW is known for creating an inclusive writing space for all women.
Alaska Women Speak
Poem “Container of Love” is for my mother and describes how the mother tends to the needs of both the poet and the newborn baby, offering emotional support, physical care, and assistance with daily tasks. Poem “the flower” captures the tender innocence of childhood and the beauty found in simple gestures. The flower symbolizes purity, beauty, and the fleeting nature of life itself.
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Alaska Women Speak is a journal devoted to the expression of ideas, literature, and art.
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In Parenthesis
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Poem “Wasn't born like this” conveys a sense of struggle, frustration, and exhaustion experienced by the speaker, dedicated to MF DOOM, a renowned rapper known for his intricate wordplay and masked persona.
It is a place where works of great artists, thinkers, and critics come together in the form of a literary magazine and community.
VIPF 2024: THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL
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Poem, Leaves published in Boundless 2024: The Anthology of the Rio Grande Valley Poetry Festival​
Poetic Melodies
Poem “Music in the house” about various sounds in the house is published here. The poem tries to tell how sounds become music if there is love.
I am so happy to be a part of this as it has an amazing collection of many international writers.
The sales from this book go to Starving Artists Fund.
Life as it happens
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Poem “I lost her somewhere” in anthology “Life as it happens” The poem is about a women realizing the loss of the girl she once was.
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It has 105 poets, can you imagine what a treat that is?
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Poetry 4 our Planet
Poem “Watching wings” published here which talks about a bird drinking water in my balcony.
I am so happy to be a part of this project and hope to write poems and stories that can be part of something so huge.
Dear Anonymous
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Poem “To the workaholic” is published by Sea Green Zines. The poem is a letter to workaholics everywhere.
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Woman's Era
Poem I fell in love published in the January 2015 issue of Women’s era. The poem is about my encounter with a squirrel.
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Woman's Era is one of the reputed magazines in India.
Afflatus
Poem published in the inaugural issue of Afflatus. it is based in the Philippines and some of the proceeds will go to a family support group in Philippine General Hospital during Christmas.
I am happy to be a part of this project.
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Woman's Era
Poem “I can’t wait” published in the July (second) issue of Woman's era It is about my 9-monthwait to meet my little monkey.
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Writer's Ezine
Poem “Hope” published in this Ezine which encourages new poets. This is one of my very first poems and getting it published gives so much hope and encouragement. The poem, as the name suggests, is about hope.
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Prachya Review
Poem “I let it fly away" published with some really talented poets. The poem was published in the issue themed "Loss"
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Very honored to be part of this "must read" journal.
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Silver Birch Press
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Poem “I like it here" published in this monthly themed press.
My first international publication, What makes it so rewarding is that I had to rework on it thrice. It has made me appreciate the quality standard of the publication house and it also feels so good to know that they are willing to work with you and are ensuring that only the best from you is published.
Silver Birch Press
Poem “The naming ceremony” published with Silver Birch press again.
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The poem is about my name and how it came to existence. This was a themed issue about names and their history.
Writing Raw
Poem “What will happen next?” about uncertainty in life is published here. The poem expresses mild form of fear because of uncertainty.
Writing Raw encourages young and new poets too.
Women's Era
Poem “What have we done?” published here again. Poem is about patriotism and the love and sense of responsibility a child feels for her mother.
A Room of our own.
Poem “An Indian Woman” published here is on my perspective of an Indian woman.
A Room of Our Own: An Anthology of Feminist & Womanist Writing is a collection of essays, poetry, and short stories written by women.
The weekly Avocet
Poem “Fireworks" published in the reputed weekly journal of poetry - Issue247. This poem was written on 4th of July after seeing the amazing fireworks near home.
The weekly Avocet is a journal that sends poetry on nature every sunday morning - making it a leisure read every weekend.
Ek Sehar ummid bhari
Poem "The real problem" is published in this dual anthology of hindi and english poets. My friend who isn't very thin expressed her issues with marriage and fat. I was devastated to realize how body centric the world can be. This poem was written with the hope of reaching out to her.
Woman's Era
Poem “Love in the house” published in the October (second) issue of Woman's era It is about all the noises in the house - with love they become like music.
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Love at first sight
Poem "My baby" published in the much awaited anthology.
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This I know...
Poem “The blissful leaf" published in this anthology of prose and poems.
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The poem is about the leaf knowing that it is attached to the tree and no matter what happens, till it is attached - nothing can harm it.
Fragrance of Asia
Poem “Being Love" published in this anthology of poems by selected poets from Asia.
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The poem is about my interpretation of moving and transforming from ego to love.
Pure Slush
Poem “I can't decide" published in this anthology of poems on Happiness.
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The poem is overloaded with cuteness of motherhood.
Whispering Poiesis
Poem "My son hasn't come home yet" published in Whispering Poiesis - A labor of lot of love by Mr. Gopakumar Radhakrishnan.
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The poem is about a mother's worries of her son.
The wild word
Poem "Again" published in this online magazine.
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The poem subtly touches the topic of aging and dying in the pretext of trees
Dear Anonymous
Poem published in this magazine all the way from Australia.
The angry poem depicts my thoughts on customer service.
After the pause
Poem "Rationalizing" published in this wonderful journal of poetry, flash fiction and art.
The poem is ... read and find for yourself.
Cecile’s Writers'
Poem "Nostalgia" published where intercultural writers are offered an unique opportunity to publish their work and share it with the world which makes it wonderful place to publish.
The poem as the name suggests is about - Nostalgia.
Poetry Super Highway
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Poem "Pained" published in this wonderful site of poetry. Absolutely honored to be part of 20th Annual Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) Poetry Issue.
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The poem is an expression of a question that has been bothering me for a long time.
Our Poetry Archive
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Poem "Apraadh", "The repetitive thief" and "Dreams" published in this monthly journal of poetry in the June 2018 issue.
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Apraadh expresses my thoughts after killing. The repetitive thief is about my thoughts on regrets and Dreams is about dreams.
Spank the Carp
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Poem "It isn't about the cookie" is published with issue 52 of "Spank the Carp"
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Poem is my angst with my authority as a mother.
Further Within Darkness & Light
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Poem "What does it mean to be a human" is published in this collection of poetry which gives all its proceeds to charity.
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The poem as the name suggests are my thoughts on being a human.
Beyond Borders
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Poem "To Child", "I know" and "In His bubble" published in this spiritual anthology of poetry in the July 2018
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These poems have mostly come to me after my meditation and are spiritual in nature.
Cadence
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Poem "Dazed" was published in The Inner Circle Writers’ Group Poetry Anthology 2018
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Poem is about a question to the modern world.
Aquillrelle's anthologies
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Poem "Behind the clouds" republished in this anthology with the sub-title "Selecting the best"
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The poem is about me waiting for the sun.
Poets facing the wall
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Poem "Myopia of belonging" published here along with other poets opposing the current political scenario
I am strength
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Poem "Ode to the peaks" coming here soon
Minute Magazine
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Poem "In control" published in Minute Magazine. An online, nonprofit literary & art publication dedicated to examining life under the microscope.
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The poem is about my struggle for waking up early.
Fourth and Sycamore
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Poem "Faces in the carpet" and "Choosing memories" published in the literary journal of Greenville Public Library - Fourth and Sycamore.
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"Faces in the carpet" is about just another day of motherhood.and "Choosing memories" is about my dad.
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Subterranean Blue Poetry
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Poem "Choti" published in this beautiful online journal here.
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A much awaited release called "Choti" was written when my sister was planning a visit last year.
Politics letters Live​
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Poem "I met my past" published as the Feature of the month here.
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The fictional poem in the form of a story is about a girl seeing her Ex
100 Thousand Poets for Change
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Poem "Ju$t D1$$1m1l@r" published in the September issue of 100TPC. It is an international grassroots educational, non-profit organization focusing on poetry, music, and the literary arts.
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This poem was inspired from Swami Vivekananda's speech and is dedicated to him.
The writers and readers
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Poem "The secret rose" published in the January issue of "The writers and readers magazine." My first publication of 2020.
This poem is about my first crush.