A lot of poems thrum an undifferentiated tune as the same figures of Ganga and Yajnaseni tiredly relate the same experiences of womanhood: womb, fertility, emptiness. That said, some poems on sacrifice and violation stand out — K. Satchidanandan’s ‘Non-Negotiable’, ‘Burnt Poems’ and ‘She, Inside Me’ add interesting variations. Overall, the anthology has an eclectic cast of allies holding up mirrors to the lived experiences of women. However, the radical act of breaching language so as to connect it with feminist politics is a task best left to women. Collegiality and Other Ballads: Feminist Poems by Male and Non-binary Allies; edited by Shamayita Sen; Hawakal Publishers; ₹450.

Source: The Hindu July 24, 2021 18:44 UTC