Mahadevi Chastens Her Lover, Lord of Mallika, and: The Preference of Vishnu, and: What a Fisher Girl Said in Defense of Absence, Her Lover, and: Her Final Word to Vishnu, and: The Challenge

MAHADEVI CHASTENS HER LOVER, LORD OF MALLIKA Reetika Vazirani you're calling my pager goes I excuse myselffrom my prying in-laws' bill collector give magazine ads to my sister admire the coral manicure in your miracle smile Daddy let the children ding to your belt like starfish and husband he calls me life I say sleep in thejula all Sunday child you move in die neem tree I head in wind Arjuna Lord ofMallika let's be faithful help me watch interstates I lose can't be home past swallow's nest in-laws won't eat meat cold go on laugh dusty feet do you think I can fly each time you page me at least stop the topaz gust ofmoving trucks let me come invisibly a seed my sleeves in a husband's wallet I love my children yet each time I sit down I must get up my name digital from mouths ofseven islands so ifI fail don't clutter my pasture I'll turn you'll be nothing nickel paper British stranger muttering long lines no trains Mahadevi, born in the 12th century in southern India, is known as one ofthe major saints ofthe 'bhakti' protest movement. [Meridians:feminism, race, transnationalism 2001, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 153]©2001 by Wesleyan University Press. All rights reserved. 153 THE PREFERENCE OF VISHNU Reetika Vazirani now to change a cloak a ring who am I Arjuna's charioteer? discus lotus mace or conch? do I drive whose wheels? but don't call me lover ofMallika seen in Shiva's palm sometimes loving her is worst ofall my names she incites jealousy young her airs seemed stylish envy provoking art too tired for her film-maker's praise boring stills she drags me into I'd rather hold die world on my thigh [Meridians:feminism, race, transnationalism 2001, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 154]©2001 by Wesleyan University Press. All rights reserved. 154 WHAT A FISHER GIRL SAID IN DEFENSE OF ABSENCE, HER LOVER Reetika Vazirani at least he kept his promise he said I'll make you rich even though he left when I close my eyes I'm hitched to his strides he's shown me my house is as broad as a look over a beak and there are fifty rainy seasons on their way to paradise big future sometimes I'm without hope for light years but he didn't promise me words like an athlete in his element widi me he had no use for talk and day by day I am stunned to want him on me unpeeled even when he leaves I've let him own me how did I contain your desire for the myth ofme [Meridians:feminism, race, transnationalism 2001, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 155]©2001 by Wesleyan University Press. All rights reserved. 155 HER FINAL WORD TO VISHNU Reetika Vazirani now that I've praised you temple's afternoons my hunger's a throat called the Fever sunk in your name Tirumal Dark One ifI sleep you will phone me I'll miss it that's the way it seems to go lids drunk torso light body drunk eyes on horseback I am folding no one's shirts days waiting was a sea-bird's game don't tell me yes don't tell me no I will go tasting grey salt freedom [Meridians:feminism, race, transnationalism 2001, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 156]©2001 by Wesleyan University Press. All rights reserved. 156 THE CHALLENGE Reetika Vazirani swallow me I challenged swallow me up ifyou're so great in one look she swallowed now I'm a spot in her eye marvelous to see so much terrible too no rest striding through with her lime eyes open [Meridians:/eminism, race, transnationalism 2001, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 157]©2001 by Wesleyan University Press. All rights reserved. 157 ...