THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

Amma and I, evening sunlight

Couch and vanilla chai

Television and media, corrupting the youth

Glory days

No mentions of child abuse

Therefore, no child abuse

No television or media, corrupting the youth

Correlation is causation

For Amma.

My shrill sure voice pipes up

Every woman I've ever known has been abused as a child.

Every. Single. Woman.

I freeze that second, offer it to her in my hands

Time mists around us as I wait

Crystallising.

Ask me.

Ask me, if it was ever me.

Amma looks uncomfortable

Clears throat sips tea

Television and media

Kids these days.

The moment breaks

Shatters

Time rushes back into the watch towers, clocks, and hourglasses.

And I am back

In the mouth of the wolf

Strange hands across my flesh

A little girl

Afraid to call for help

Afraid no one would come if she did

But now it’s worse

Now she knows.