The World Literature Blog

The esteemed Journal of Literature and Aesthetics - an international peer reviewed journal, one of only two such in Kerala, the other one having been run by the late P K Rajan - has my poem in it, thanks to Prathap Kamath  It also has a great poem by Ra Sh called Creation and an article by Prathap on Dattani's Tara. This poem was rejected twice, first for an African anthology by James Robert Myers and then by Sunil Sharma for the Authorspress Indo- Australian anthology, so I am happy that it finally appeared. It is about Booker T Washington who wrote Up From Slavery. He is M L King Jr.'s forerunner in America. Thanks to Srinivasan sir, chief editor and founder, for everything and proud to appear in a magazine where great writers like Derek Walcott have appeared. The photo of Booker T is there on the page, and my poem is on it. The moral of the story is my poems will keep appearing... despite everything...

Here is my simple poem:

1) UP FROM SLAVERY
For Booker T Washington

booker t
you belonged to a different time
but sitting in a corner in india
when i was a child
reading you
your mother's prayers and your uncle tom humility
touched me
i will never forget you
or what you taught me
booker t
that wrong isn't right
that might isn't light
that hate can't bait
and no one can keep anyone
slaves, endlessly

freedom rings
from your memory
even to today's slaves
booker t
be they in india
or u.s. of a
or anywhere else
in mine or field

you will always shine
when they count the death blows
to slavery
great booker t!

(c) 2013 Koshy A.V.

As a double whammy or treat, in Holistic Thought, Prathap Kamath's department journal, my article on Othello has also finally appeared. Don't know how to thank you enough, dear Prathap.