Sea vigil
On Chilka Lake in Odissa
the village farmed vegetables
of the sea, tending them
since boats had trod on waves
without their catch,
the village would fade
so when metal boned ships
stormed fields of sea
our villagers met
decided to rise, not see
all farmers kept
on hungry beeches
but they harvested our marchers,
stored them deep in cells
whilst wigged men battled
with words, the women lit
their candle, kept flames glowing
and floating on their stretch of sea
our village had tended, never farmed
till metal boats came to plunder
draining shoals and dredging life
but the women held their waves
kept their candles burning
till their sea was returned
though you cannot return
what cannot be owned
what is just a part
of the village soul
I sew for you
I am a woman
my stitches never match
my pay.
I sew to be independent.
I sew for the West,
I sew jeans for UK teens
no time to sew
seeds for my eating.
I sew sequins for many hours
with tired eyes, sore fingers-
and they glitter like the sun.
I sew on pink and turquoise
my many beautiful patterns.
I sew and I raise my voice
to be more powerful,
and be heard.
I sew my own designs
in my own time.
The story of K Rani- a lady, a mother, an entrepreneur supported by Action Village India
She was wearing white too soon,
too young to be a widow
then uprooted from a plot
that was never hers and shunted
from the room her daughter called home.
Debts piled and favours grew scare
Favours grew up into debts,
which stalked her through lanes
battered her door, smashed the rice jar
searching for her last bangle.
But, she knew how to grow
her future and claim it back-
she went to market with lent rupees
who would tow their newly welded life
to a safer path, and her white sari
is now folded in a new home
where she ladles the milk
she sells to keep her house
her own, pay back her gifted loan.
She’ll see her daughter grow
and keep her village close.
Indian farm kennings- by children aged 4-10
Rice growing
curry leaf picking
bananas yellowing
monkeys scoffing.
Cows milking
pigs rolling
oranges growing
farmer picking.
Cat purring
mouse running
tiger growling
farmer shouting.
Oxen ploughing
horses trotting
crops growing
farmers sewing.
Dog barking
farmers harvesting
scarecrows frightening
birds squawking.
