The cottage remains
The myth of love still lives
in the heap of straw
and amongst the beads of a
broken necklace
The footsteps
cutting through
woods
are deep, solid
despite the
rain through
years
Life is walking
on them
rather slowly
due to a tangled
“Scarf”
-DR. SHAILJA SHARMA
This poem was first published in INdian periodical in July 2021 and then in PIKer press in November 2021. It is also published in Dr. Shailja Sharma’s book, “Dear Mama, An Immigrant’s Secret Cry,” by Pittsburgh-based Setu on February 15, 2022.
Shailja Sharma (Ph.D.), USA, is a mental health provider and a multilingual author. Apart from scholarly publication and editorial service, her literary writings have been nationally and internationally published. She is currently serving on the editing panel of a UK-based journal of poetry and artwork. Dr. Sharma’s publications have appeared in many literary journals/forums of repute across USA, Canada, UK, and Asia. Credits: Beautiful Space, Spillwords, Literary Heist, Piker Press, Better Than Starbucks, Life in 10, Masticadores, Setu, among other forums. She is the author of a poetry book, “Dear Mama: An Immigrant’s Secret Cry,” by Pittsburgh-based Setu. Her next collection, “Sip the Roses” is upcoming via ABP Press, USA. She is currently participating in several anthologies being published nationally and internationally. She was awarded a special literary honor for her writing contributions in international languages. Find her on Twitter @drshailjasharma.
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-MASTICADORESINDIA
MasticadoresIndia // Editora: Terveen Gill 
Shailja’s poetry glides so smoothly upon the wings of memories. People move on but places don’t, and the vibrations that they harbor often are the source of countless stories. I like the way every line reveals a remnant of the past and as we read further, the mystery only deepens. “Life is walking on them rather slowly” – A line that provokes one to ponder upon the meaning of being and the essence of existence. That tangled ‘scarf’ has been around for a while.
Congratulations Shailja!
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