My friends are surprised
that I've never played Holi
Carelessly I used to tell them,
I'm not a Hindu.
Its an Indian festival
they say,
(Do you celebrate your ex's birthday?)
(Do you celebrate your ex's birthday?)
Sometimes I've wanted to
but I'm told that
the white man's religion
must not be tainted
but I'm told that
the white man's religion
must not be tainted
by any native stains
So I hide my curiosity
like expired disinfectant
careful of boundaries
I'm supposed to be what they are not.
careful of boundaries
I'm supposed to be what they are not.
Wonderful idea in the last line! Suggestions for the poem below:
ReplyDeleteI Am Not
My friends are surprised
that I've never played Holi.
I'm not a Hindu,
I used to tell them carelessly.
It's an Indian festival,
they say.
(Do you celebrate
your ex's birthday?)
Sometimes I've wanted to
but I'm told that
[[the white man's burden
should not have any native stains
So I hide my curiosity like expired disinfectant]] - [[The lines within the box brackets still lack clarity. When the individual feedback happens in person, you need to explain these lines again. Because I want to understand the idea properly and then let's figure how we reframe these lines. Right now, their weight is being undermined by their vagueness. Don't you think so?]]
I've become careful of boundaries.
I'm supposed to be
what they are not.