MATRIARCH AND THE FAMILY TREE

Matriarch, the keeper of the family tree..
She mothered it,
roots reaching down to the fathoms of ancestry,
yet, fruits were written under ‘his’ name.


She wrote our book of life,
never to be mentioned in it.
sold to the man for a pittance,
overpowered by his might,
sweat and sighs behind the doors,
destined to be at his feet.
lost her identity to give them one.

Light of the house, fire in the hearth,
always burning, never burnt out.
When our plates were full, yours was empty.
When our hearts were empty, yours was full-

that’s you Matriarch.


Each time when you taught us the ‘sign of the cross’,
you were bearing the pangs of the cross.
Did you ever have a resurrection?
Faith lived, faith taught.
Values lived, values taught.
Each time your voice was suppressed by the domineering power of the man
you let your deeds speak.
The power of silence...
Meaning of words unspoken- You were words unspoken, but
never acts undone
presence when you are hidden…,


A furious lioness, you ward off the predators.

Hampered by your seasons,
protected us from our seasons.
When drought came- they came often and on –
opened the heart, and there flowed the eternal spring.
Oh! Matriarch, you are the most liberated soul that I have seen
We call you Mother,
sister, daughter, and wife…
woman….
Face may change, womb is the same.


The Ardha-Nari-Iswara, mover of creation,
the furrows on your face tell of the toils of creation and sustenance,
but, never that of the destroyer,

Do you want to see her?
Look at the light that shines over us
To touch her….?
Climb down the rock that holds us high
To Feel her?
Dig the hearth of our homes, in the burning charcoal.
You will see a piece of charcoal when all others are burnt out..
still burning..
that’s her…
To experience her?
Follow the stream that waters the family tree


If you ever have a chance,
take that journey to her.
It will be the sweetest and most fulfilling pilgrimage




*Ardha Nari Iswara-The Indian concept that God is half male and half female.

Ardha=half,Nari= Woman, Iswara=God


(This poem is the reflection of women in the Indian society. They are the prime movers of our culture and family life; they suffer a lot; yet they hold everything together; they are the keepers of our family tree, but their names are written down in the book of our family life..)