No Papier Mache Doll, This

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SivakamiVelliangiri
Posts: 40
Joined: 23 Jan 2022, 15:37

No Papier Mache Doll, This

#1 Post by SivakamiVelliangiri » 07 Nov 2022, 22:11

Meena Kandaswamy,
when she was just twenty
badmouthed Gandhi
who got us ‘Freedom’-
I hid my embarrassment, but
bounced as quickly back
to the Muses and poetry.

Meena Kandaswamy’s
goddesses kill, strip,
bay for blood, climb
on to a stranger’s lap
brave bombs, belittle kings,
take on the sun.

They do not write into patriarchy
they take after her,
her goddesses militate.

Meena Kandaswamy
poet from South India,
tweets to announce
the politics of being a woman.

Meena Kandaswamy
is no papier mache Golu doll.

Siva Ramanathan
Edited using Bob’s suggestion























Meena Kandaswamy,
when she was very young
badmouthed Gandhi who got us ‘Freedom’;
for a second I hid my embarrassment
bounced as quickly back to the Muses.

I love Meena Kandaswamy’s take
on our village goddesses-
she with her original Tamil tongue
and her non sexy attitude.

How she pokes at the hierarchy,
thinks original, that is poetry!

Meena Kandaswamy
poet from South India, rocketed,
to the cloud where tweets announce
the politics of being a woman.

Meena Kandaswamy
is no papier mache Golu doll.

Siva Ramanathan

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: No Papier Mache Doll, This

#2 Post by BobBradshaw » 08 Nov 2022, 08:28

I like the simplicity of this, and am intrigued by Meena Kandaswamy. But I'm curious. What is her "take on our village goddesses"? Show us an example of her poking at the hierarchy, how she thinks "original". Specifics will make the poem even better.

SivakamiVelliangiri
Posts: 40
Joined: 23 Jan 2022, 15:37

Re: No Papier Mache Doll, This

#3 Post by SivakamiVelliangiri » 09 Nov 2022, 19:32

I have used Meena's words in the poem.Is that permitted?

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: No Papier Mache Doll, This

#4 Post by BobBradshaw » 09 Nov 2022, 23:08

This is better! Good poem.

FranktheFrank
Posts: 1983
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
Location: Between the mountains and the sea

Re: No Papier Mache Doll, This

#5 Post by FranktheFrank » 10 Nov 2022, 01:18

As I understand it, to use another poet's words in a poem is plagiarising.
Hence when I used lines from Bernie's poem to introduce my poem
Frosted Garden (1st Place 2017 IBPC), I posted them as an epigraph
and gave the name of Bernie's poem -'Winterset (2007) and his name.
Bernie fully approved of this and thanked me.

I would advise whatever you do make sure the reader knows
the words are in parenthesis and who's poem they belong to.

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: No Papier Mache Doll, This

#6 Post by Kenneth2816 » 10 Nov 2022, 10:06

I do not think it plagiarism to use a poet's words in a poem about the poet. The definition is to try and pass the work off as one's own.

SivakamiVelliangiri
Posts: 40
Joined: 23 Jan 2022, 15:37

Re: No Papier Mache Doll, This

#7 Post by SivakamiVelliangiri » 10 Nov 2022, 17:46

Thank you Frank and Kenneth.

Michael (MV)
Posts: 2154
Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57

Re: No Papier Mache Doll, This

#8 Post by Michael (MV) » 17 Nov 2022, 15:41

Hi Siva,

Given the title, the last 2 lines

"Meena Kandaswamy
is no papier mache Golu doll"

aren't needed.

But I workshop-suggest including "Golu" in the title.


😎

Michael ✍ (MV)

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