12 Comments
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David Donoghue's avatar

Incredible writing. Thanks for sharing.

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Mike Speriosu's avatar

Beautiful, Anagha. I’ve never been there, but now I feel like I have. I love your use of whitespace and lowercase too.

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Anagha Smrithi's avatar

Thank you so much Mike! It's so moving to know that you feel like you've been there; it's what I aspire to do with my writing. I really appreciate your note.

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Malcolm J McKinney's avatar

"i am running out of ways to forget you."

But you I will subscribe

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Anagha Smrithi's avatar

Oh thank you for subscribing Malcolm

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Terra Incógnita's avatar

i think

i am running out of ways to forget you.

WHAT

WHAT

WHAT

SPEECHLESS

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Anagha Smrithi's avatar

HI! I'm glad you liked it!! Thanks for all your encouraging comments on my other pieces too, omg, it really made my day <3

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Terra Incógnita's avatar

I meant every word.

You made mine by your incredible poems

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Aastha's avatar

Bombay meri jaan -- I've so desperately wanted to capture the city's atmosphere and here you've done it so perfectly -- it feels alive, beautiful and tragic. Thank you for your writing. Your poetry continue to inspire me ❤️

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Anagha Smrithi's avatar

Oh this is such a lovely comment to receive! Thank you so much for reading Aastha <3 I'm so glad that you think I've captured the city well in this piece.

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Daniel Henderson's avatar

From beginning to end my attention was held. "That July" hooked me with how direct and the sense of dread I felt with anticipating what makes this July "that", instead of yet another mundane month within the year.

"i think i am running out of ways to forget you." Is going to stick with me for a while. Very great read. Thank you.

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Dec 18, 2023
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Anagha Smrithi's avatar

Thanks for your comment and the lovely image! I love your suggestion about roots. A lot of these are my older poems that I’m reworking and sharing on Substack. I do want to bring more of India and the Indian city in my current writing ☺️

This poem is set in Bombay btw; I wonder if that knowledge will bring more of it to life: July, the monsoon, the straining city, the umbrellas, the flooding, the stench! It’s Bombay just as I remember it.

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