Lady Tencows by ed hart
They laugh, "A woman's worth one
cow."
She, halt by her father's hand
and Mawmaw's cross-eyed bull,
was, well, worth less.
Bold-tongued,
opined about the length of thatch
and how the sun peers in our hut
to make a longer day
and
me
more of laughter's fool.
But she can read the stars
and mix a brew to tend the night
and tether sorrows
with arms that know the length of love.
They watch her on the path,
blinking at her broad-brimmed hat,
while she,
standing at the edge of all we know,
scatters words.
Ten cows I gave for her.
Ten cows was all I had.
............................................................................................................
Dear Learner,
This is a lovely love poem which is written with the flavours of a folk song. The poet speaks about how people said that "A woman's worth one cow" and the one he wanted to be with was "worth less". They even tried to suggest that the poet was being foolish. But the wise poet explains how his lady love who "can read the stars", "mix a brew to tend the night", and "tether sorrows with arms that know the length of love" while she stands "at the edge of all we know" is "worth" everything he has and more.
For me, as a girl, this poem tells me who I need to be for my soul-mate. It articulates my aspiration. It gives me the mind-map of where I need to be, if I am to blossom into a soul-mate.
If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.
Warm wishes from a fellow learner,
. serah .
This is a lovely love poem which is written with the flavours of a folk song. The poet speaks about how people said that "A woman's worth one cow" and the one he wanted to be with was "worth less". They even tried to suggest that the poet was being foolish. But the wise poet explains how his lady love who "can read the stars", "mix a brew to tend the night", and "tether sorrows with arms that know the length of love" while she stands "at the edge of all we know" is "worth" everything he has and more.
For me, as a girl, this poem tells me who I need to be for my soul-mate. It articulates my aspiration. It gives me the mind-map of where I need to be, if I am to blossom into a soul-mate.
If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.
Warm wishes from a fellow learner,
. serah .
प्रिय विद्यार्थी,
ये कविता अत्यंत ही गंभीर और गेहरी है। इस कविता में हमें इंसानों की मानसिकता का आईना दिखाई देता है। कई बार हम ऐसे लोगों से मिलते हैं जिनकी प्रतिभाशाली ज़ुबान झूठ की दीवारों से हमें घेर लेती हैं। हम अनुमान लगाने की कोशिश करते हैं की उन लोगों ने हमें जानबूच कर बेहकाया या अनजाने में उलझाया। हमें गुस्सा भी आता है। पर कुछ समय बाद हम समझ जाते हैं की हर इंसान कभी ना कभी झूठ बोलता है। हम ख़ुद को और उन लोगों को माफ कर देते हैं।
अगर आप भी मेरी तरह हिन्दुतानी हैं और अंग्रेज़ी आपकी प्राथमिक भाषा नहीं है, कृपया कविता को कई बार सुनें। हमारा उद्देश्य कविता को ज़ुबानी याद करना नहीं है। हमारा उद्देश्य है कविता को सीखना और समझना और इस कदर सीखना और समझना की कविता ज़ुबानी याद ना होते हुए भी हमेशा याद रहे।
हमें शांती तब मिलती है जब हम जीवन के इस रहस्य को समझ जाते हैं और हर इंसान को अपने बराबर का दर्जा देते हैं।
अगर आप भी मेरी तरह हिन्दुतानी हैं और अंग्रेज़ी आपकी प्राथमिक भाषा नहीं है, कृपया कविता को कई बार सुनें। हमारा उद्देश्य कविता को ज़ुबानी याद करना नहीं है। हमारा उद्देश्य है कविता को सीखना और समझना और इस कदर सीखना और समझना की कविता ज़ुबानी याद ना होते हुए भी हमेशा याद रहे।
आपकी सह-विद्यार्थी,
. serah .
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