Nivedita Narsapuram, Poetry 2022 Shortlist

 Maps and Graph sheets 

Do you remember those political maps 

we bought at the stationary shop? 

Those flimsy sheets of paper that sold maps, 

political, apolitical

For five marks, we would mark the bumps and ridges 

and the slimy waterbodies

Now, they are sold in three-dimensions and five-dimensions

Do you remember the year 

when we did not know what 

north-west or north-east meant

And a half-mark was cut 

Now, our maps are marked by 

Caste-marks and headgear

But we know the slimy measurements 

Are measured by what we wear