Poet in the Loop: Varsha Shah

Friendswood Public Library's off the page poetry series presents Poets in the Loop on Wednesday, September 17 at 7pm. Poets in the Loop is a Houston area poetry critique group with published and award winning poets. Join us for an evening of creative and insightful poetry. 

Varsha Shah’s poetry has been published in various journals and anthologies including Borderlands, Convergence, Five Inprint Poets and UT Press. She regularly reads at Archway Gallery and Rice Gallery Words & Art events. Travels, hiking, music, dancing, gardening, and good poetry inspire her life’s work.

  

1.

Ars Poetica

You trouble me too much.

I agonize your landing––

I dread your departure, always abrupt.

In your disguise I ache

from not quickening that instant.

You stay back, I’m destitute.

Fallen on a leaf a multi-headed beast,

I can’t unfold enough

to enfold you in whole.

Promise me––

No one will dare you from me.

To be free, I must flee

from hangout to our hideout,

From bourgeois to bohemian

Be it known

Yours Truly,

You trouble me too much.

2.

Little Black Dress

She finds a woven evening of raw silk

pondering over crêpe de chine, taffeta and chiffon––

the small scooped neck seamed to a half-moon back.

Perfect curves darned to a maiden hour-glass

carved from black marble descending

firm, flowing knees.

Bosom tucked inside dainty waist,

trimmed shoulders hold up

postured for the bolero, the back drop

just deep enough to swallow

body’s light into a becoming night.

Tiny roses fashioned in satin,

their embroidered eyes hold heat

the three-way mirror carries––

queries that transcend skin folds, shapes

the motherhood defies, twisting answers

to archetype standards:  how long must they fit

her body and its contrived images?

~Varsha Saraiya-Shah