#38 - An introduction, of all women by Kamala Das
In this episode, I read "An Introduction" by Kamala Das. This is the 5th poem by a woman Indian poet that I am reading on this podcast. I used the opportunity to compare the themes which preoccupy women against those that make up the verses of men. This is by no means an exhaustive study and only a morning lamentation as I scrolled through the poems I have covered. And perhaps deserves a deeper analysis. But in this poem here, because of the nature of this poem I was forced to consider what women think of when they write - an introduction is in that sense both just a poem but also a catalog of thoughts that occur to a woman as she sits down to introduce herself. This isn't flowery prose or melodic verse, there are no strong visual metaphors. There is only a simple telling of her story interspersed with the stories of all women as she knew them. Listen in! The poem I read can be accessed here - https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/an-introduction-2/ The host, Ravneet Bawa as - @one_third_above on Instagram @maikeya on Twitter Email: [email protected] Disclaimer: This podcast is created for sharing with friends and family, and only as a passion project amidst the Covid lockdown with no commercial interest. In all episodes I read from sources on the public internet or copies of books I possess. The commentary is all my own.