The woman with the deep chesty cough, She exudes sadness through her tears, even through her sweet smiles. She throws her head back in abandon as she laughs For a month she’s felt the raw soreness in her throat as she: Cough cough cough coughs! Developing a 6 pack that hurts now. From a separation, … Continue reading From One Woman to Another
Author: natasha devalia
Author Poetry and Art books: ‘Tears and Grape Seeds’ 2025, ‘one touch of the rope’, 2024 and ‘Unseen Veins’, 2023
Zambian of South Asian descent, living in Thailand.
I write poetry, perform, and I’m currently an MFA (painting) student. The themes of my art whether expressed through movement, poetry, painting or as interdisciplinary forms include identity, belonging, mental health and family life.
Alone Time
A moment alone, a cherished one So deep is the desire to dive into the cool, yet the tiredness holds her back Maybe a nap will take care of the fatigue Her heavy eyes rest in silence, She listens to the background sounds of the jungle She does what she can, She drives from school … Continue reading Alone Time
Exhaling
Into the depths of despair She plunges head first Fingertips break through Not a splash is seen She confuses fatigue with darkness She searches for routine, for stability And up she comes, Fingers reach for the surface A gasp of air, a lifting She looks out at the view The creativity flows And back she … Continue reading Exhaling
Words
It’s all slipping out Now, all of a sudden Rolling off my lips Syllable by syllable This new expressive form Of love, of coming through fear, Of abandon and yearning Sounds coming to life Now, all of a sudden Rolling off my lips Syllable by syllable A striking, piercing gaze Unshaken by doubt From boredom … Continue reading Words
Timelessness
Without beginning or end There is the here and now The essence of love Is evident Even as emotion runs wild The presence of life Is immediate I look into my child’s eye Where to now? The unknown space of lightness Of joy Of depth in pain Of surrender In this timelessness There is space … Continue reading Timelessness
Whichever Way Things Fall
My mind is tangled Only time can release that Free me Dance is a garland Of pretty flowers around my neck Deep roots Grounded into the earth I move to the rhythm of life Stomp through uncertainty Knowing that love’s At the heart of it all Whichever way things fall
Heavier, but Happier
Getting comfortable with changes in our body can be interesting and can take time. Since I started taking medication almost 2 years ago I have put on more weight than I ever have in the past, except for when I was pregnant. I remember the period when I moved to Canada to attend university, I … Continue reading Heavier, but Happier
Yoga and Dance: Back on my Path
Just as I was getting into the momentum of my physical activities over the last few days, yesterday I was rushing around while texting and walking out my front door. Crrrrr. I twisted my ankle and found myself in a squatting position. On the floor in quite a bit of pain. I hobbled through the … Continue reading Yoga and Dance: Back on my Path
In the Middle of my Projects
At the moment it doesn’t feel good to be in and out of numerous projects, not to feel like I am moving along let alone completing anything. I am back to a state of being in the middle of three different books, in the middle of knitting my first ever blanket, baby is born already … Continue reading In the Middle of my Projects
Neither Pushy nor Sleepy
There are phases in the yoga practice where we as practitioners might push, try too hard, and we can end up injured either physically, or psychologically. I was in Mysore in 2006 as a beginner to the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga system. I managed by copying a few people in the shala. I was flexible enough … Continue reading Neither Pushy nor Sleepy
Natasha Devalia 