Delighted to present our 2022 Aryamati Prize runner up Natasha Devalia and a poem from her gorgeous pamphlet 'Unseen Veins'.
Our Moon
Can I keep my children
from their need to belong?
From knowing:
coiled chongololos
inswa, the smell of wet soil,
of incense and garbas,
nshima and chicken curry.
They live city
lights, endless towers,
Hong Kong, Chengdu,
Bangkok, and the island
of broken dreams.
They roam free
in disconnection, and
they pine for more;
who am I? do I
belong? they wonder.
Our moon unites us,
it rises into the shared night sky
shines the same light on us all
regardless of what, how, where
or who we call home.
About the Poet:
Natasha Devalia moves to the rhythm of her breath, to the melodies of those closest to her, and to the sounds of the world at large.
Natasha is Zambian of Indian heritage, living in Thailand. She writes, performs, teaches dance and yoga, and enjoys painting. The themes of her art include, but are not exclusive to mental health, migration, identity, and family life.
Natasha is a wife, mother of twins, artist, and founder of Studio Figure Eight, a dance, yoga, and fitness space.
Some of her poems have been published in Namaskar magazine as well as the Ink Sac, a Cephalopress web feature. She is currently in the process of writing a memoir: "The Gift", about her experiences with IVF, twin pregnancy, premature delivery of her twins, and her mental health while living in Asia as a young woman.
More: www.natashadevalia.com
About 'Unseen Veins':
In this poetry pamphlet, the complexities of how we label ourselves and where we belong are laid bare. From the place where we are born, to our parents' heritage, to our name's origin, we are asked to 'choose a side'. This poet hopes for a world where their children can choose their own identity.
Isabelle said: "I was blown away by Natasha's ability to capture the complexities of identity and not shy away from both the more challenging questions of societal boxes and what that meant for her children."