Sarita Jenamani

Untitled

The stretched earth lies thirsty
like a crumbled blotting paper
The scorching whirlwind
has blown away with it
stanzas from the book of lullabies
The remaining pages of history
have lost their way
in the dark lane
of the century
Passing through the nomadic shadows
you have to move to the fringe of the time
It is not enough to set free
the restless soul of the night
from the swarthy hiss of terror
You have to climb to the peak
holding those hands
that slumber beneath
the dismal blanket
You have to move forward
not just to secure
a space for yourself
but to light the stars
of your share

Sarita Jenamani (India/Austria) was born in Cuttack, Odisha and studied Economics and Management Studies in India and Austria. She writes in English, in Hindi as well as in her mother tongue, Odia. Having three books of poetry to her credit, she has been published in a number of anthologies and international literary journals including the prestigious PEN International and many of her poems were translated into several languages. Sarita translated Rose Ausländer, a leading Austrian poet, from German into Hindi. She has received many literary fellowships in Germany and in Austria including those of the prestigious organizations of Heinrich Böll Foundation and Künstlerdorf Schöppingen. In 2006, she was awarded the literary prize of Kulturverein Inzing, Austria. She has taken part in various literary festivals both at home and abroad. Sarita, is teh general secretary of Austrian chapter of PEN International, lives and works in Vienna. She is co-editor and publisher of the bilingual magazine Words and Worlds.