Poem: Our Moon (the video). written & recited by Natasha Devalia Music: Cascading Sakuras composed & played by Leila Kassar Footage: Nok Chuanpit, Santosh Perla Video Artist: Nok Chuanpit
Category: Multicultural Multilingual Mothering
Unseen Veins – Runner Up!
I’m honoured my pamphlet ‘Unseen Veins’ was chosen as 2nd runner up in the 2022 Aryamati poetry prize for pamphlets on the theme of social change and peace. Thank you for the recognition, Fly on the Wall Press. [About 'Unseen Veins': In this poetry pamphlet, the complexities of how we label ourselves and where we … Continue reading Unseen Veins – Runner Up!
Unseen Veins – Short list – Aryamati Competition for Poetry
“A publisher with a conscience.” That’s the tagline that Fly on the Wall Press, a small, independent publisher out of Manchester goes by. I’ve enjoyed multiple poetry pamphlets they’ve published including “Warriors” by Sundra Lawrence, “History of Forgetfulness” by Shahe Mankerian, and “Aftereffects” by Jiye Lee. After the summer holidays I was reminded of the … Continue reading Unseen Veins – Short list – Aryamati Competition for Poetry
The Gift – a memoir in process
I am currently in process of writing a memoir, The Gift that is essentially a gift for my twins in the hope that they will have a story of where they have come from. It chronicles the challenges and stories including their father’s stroke in China, my IVF process in India, their pre-term delivery as … Continue reading The Gift – a memoir in process
To My Zambian Friends
It is a self imposed exile I live I magically hide And protect myself From feelings of deep love, Of memories gone by, How do I say goodbye To this land and its people That I know and love deeply: The white toothy smiles The majestic trees Lining endless skies, The powerful energy in the … Continue reading To My Zambian Friends
For the Brothers
This August full moon, it's down to recycling my Raksha bandan post from two years ago. ----------- Raksha Bandan – Bond of Protection When I lived in Zambia my family celebrated Raksha Bandan, a North Indian festival that honours the love between sisters’ and brothers’. It falls on a full-moon in August every year. My … Continue reading For the Brothers
Hezbollah, the Cumin-timer, and the Box
At the Singapore airport last Sunday. We had South-Indian food for lunch, and North-Indian for dinner. I also got four Rasgulla, a Bengali paneer (home-made cottage cheese) based dessert. Me: Do you want to try this Leila? It's called Rasgulla. I used to eat a lot of this when I was little. Really yummy. Leila: … Continue reading Hezbollah, the Cumin-timer, and the Box
Frenglish
"We speak Frenglish," Rahul and Leila say as they squeal with laughter at the discovery of this new "word". They often use both French and English words in their sentences. Although we are a OPOL (One Person One Language) family, and are pretty consistent with it, the kids are now mixing up both French and … Continue reading Frenglish
Papa speaks Francais
Early one morning a couple of weeks ago. Leila: Where's papa? Me: He's on a plane, going to Houston, in America. Rahul: Like the pilgrims? Me: Yah, to America like the pilgrims. But he's on a plane, not a boat, so he'll be there by tomorrow. Leila: Can you be papa? Me: What do you … Continue reading Papa speaks Francais
For Just Being There
In July last year, Maher bought me an iPhone for our anniversary. My frist ever Smartphone. Of course, I didn't even open it for a few months. Now I'm hooked. And then my brother introduced me to WhatsApp while complaining about how people don't just pick up the phone and call for a few minutes. … Continue reading For Just Being There
Natasha Devalia 