Departed | Digjam Sarma

The following poem by Digjam Sarma from Tezpur was selected as a commendable mention in Wingword Poetry Prize 2020

father

am i making you proud

i have been a real good wife, haven’t i

silently taking in

all the blows and burns

since you betrothed me to him

 

the scaly belt torn in half

skin branded names by red-hot poker

my mark of honour

my tears now feed his thirst, father

more than my flesh

look at me now

look at me

you son of a bitch

look at your princess darling

before this bullet thins your skull.