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.
Yes, knowing it is set in Bombay makes a big difference. And I love that you call it Bombay not Mumbai. I’m a screenwriter by training so tend to think in images. I’m a sucker for words that paint pictures. I always ask myself “What’s the story being told here?” which often informs the visual choices available to the writer.
Very courageous of you to share older work that you are iterating in a public forum. Your poems are full of potential and tend to hinge a lot on memory - a wonderful thing to explore. Keep going!
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 ❤️
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.
So good. Your writing is always so atmospheric. I don’t know why but I picture characters from a black and white 1950s Hindi movie. Maybe the 1960s.
“Seven rupees” places this poem in India. I’d like a few more such inconsequential details - accents, if you will - to add color and weight, roots even, to these melancholy memories. Minor details often become major things when we lose someone.
Hope you don’t mind the suggestion! Looking forward to your next offering.
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.
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.
Incredible writing. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful, Anagha. I’ve never been there, but now I feel like I have. I love your use of whitespace and lowercase too.
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.
"i am running out of ways to forget you."
But you I will subscribe
Oh thank you for subscribing Malcolm
Yes, knowing it is set in Bombay makes a big difference. And I love that you call it Bombay not Mumbai. I’m a screenwriter by training so tend to think in images. I’m a sucker for words that paint pictures. I always ask myself “What’s the story being told here?” which often informs the visual choices available to the writer.
Very courageous of you to share older work that you are iterating in a public forum. Your poems are full of potential and tend to hinge a lot on memory - a wonderful thing to explore. Keep going!
i think
i am running out of ways to forget you.
WHAT
WHAT
WHAT
SPEECHLESS
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
I meant every word.
You made mine by your incredible poems
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 ❤️
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.
So good. Your writing is always so atmospheric. I don’t know why but I picture characters from a black and white 1950s Hindi movie. Maybe the 1960s.
“Seven rupees” places this poem in India. I’d like a few more such inconsequential details - accents, if you will - to add color and weight, roots even, to these melancholy memories. Minor details often become major things when we lose someone.
Hope you don’t mind the suggestion! Looking forward to your next offering.
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.
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.