For National Poetry Month: Poet Sweta Srivastava Vikram

In 1996, the Academy of American Poets created National Poetry Month, to be celebrated each April.  During the month of April, schools, libraries, booksellers, poets, and bloggers throughout the U.S. celebrate poetry by participating in readings, festivals, workshops, and other special events.

April has gone by too quickly!  I wasn't organized enough to be on the schedule for the National Poetry Month: Reach for the Horizon Blog Tour hosted by Serena from Savvy Verse & Wit, but I did want to post something worthwhile in honor of National Poetry Month.

Over the past few years, I've had the pleasure of reading four powerful books of contemporary poetry by award-winning writer Sweta Srivastava Vikram, Because All is Not Lost, Kaleidoscope: An Asian Journey of Colors, Beyond the Scent of Sorrow, No Ocean Here, as well as her striking novel, Perfectly Untraditional.  I've reviewed each of these books on my blog, and I also posted an exclusive interview with Sweta in 2010.  If you visit her website, you'll learn more about this prolific, multi-talented author, and you'll be amazed (but not surprised if you've read any of her work) at all of the honors and awards she's won!  When I heard the recent news that her poetry books were traveling to Scotland to a university library as well as to the Glasgow Women's Library, I decided I'd found the perfect subject for my poetry post.

In the nick of time, before National Poetry Month draws to a close, I'm privileged to present one of her poems from the book No Ocean Here, a collection of poetry published in 2013, about women from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.  This book, which has become an Amazon bestseller, gives women a voice against the violence and oppression they face far too frequently.

Sweta Srivastava Vikram

The poet prefaces her poem, "Superwoman", nominated for the Pushcart Prize, with the following statement:

Even in educated, modern families, men and women are not expected to do an equal share of housework despite both the husband and wife keeping jobs.


Superwoman

Her poems smell of onions,
even the raw air disapproves.

She is tired of being a superwoman--
slicing her dreams,
for dinner, running
from wall to cement,
picking up pieces
of wishes not her own,
looking beautiful during the day,
abandoned by prayers at night.

She turns on the water in the sink,
it drowns the sound of her tears.
Sighing, she pounds her fist into bread dough
until the blue veins on her fingers squirm
and she blames the onions.
 

I think this poem will resonate with women worldwide, with those who work outside of the home, as well as "only" in the home (man may work from sun to sun, but women's work is never done).

Thank you for graciously sharing your poem on my blog, Sweta.  Your poetry possesses style, eloquence, and depth, and I look forward to reading your new work.

Comments are welcomed.

(PUBLISHING DISCLAIMER: “Superwoman” excerpted with permission from the book No Ocean Here published by Modern History Press.  Copyright (c) 2013 Sweta Srivastava Vikram.  All Rights Reserved.)

Really Random Tuesday #65: Book Winners, More Giveaways, and Turmeric Tea

I'm on a roll!  Welcome to the 65th edition of Really Random Tuesday, my third RRT post this month.

I have two book winners to announce today, traveler and dinnerbyjr.  Both have won copies of No Ocean Here, a new collection of poems by Sweta Srivastava Vikram, in either print or ebook form.  Congratulations to both of you!  While this book focuses on the plight of women in several countries and is quite serious in nature, I think you'll both relish these poignant and powerful poems.

If you didn't win this book giveaway, don't be too upset.  Why not enter my giveaway for  Margaret Fuller: A New American Life by Megan Marshall, if you haven't already done so, and/or the other giveaways listed on the right side of my blog?  These book giveaways are a way to thank you for visiting (because I wonder, "what is the sound of one blogger blogging?").

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I'll admit that I'm a bit of a "health news junkie", and lately I've been reading a lot about the benefits of spices, including turmeric, a spice used abundantly in India, Pakistan, and the Middle East.  I often add turmeric to the pot when I'm cooking rice.  It imparts a yellow color to rice (which can be quite bright depending on how much is used).  I also love to add curry powder (which contains turmeric) to chicken and vegetarian dishes.  I became curious about making turmeric tea, and after spending a short time online "researching" recipes, I decided to try my own simple version.  To a cup of hot water (from my Keurig machine) I added a sprinkle of turmeric and some freshly squeezed lemon juice, and mixed it well.  The resulting turmeric tea was amber-colored, mild-flavored, and easy to drink.  Remember that ground spices are concentrated and potent, so you don't want to overdo it, although the many health benefits of spices are heavily touted right now.  (Even cinnamon, which I often add to my morning oatmeal, should be used in small amounts.  A little bit goes a long way.)  The book shown here, Turmeric: The Ayurvedic Spice of Life by Prashanti de Jager M.S., is on my wishlist.

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Appearing on random Tuesdays, Really Random Tuesday is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes, photos--any blogging and book-related matters you can think of. If you have miscellaneous book news to gather up and are inspired by this idea, "grab" the button for use on your own blog, then add your link to the "master" Mister Linky on the Really Random Tuesday page.

Thanks for reading!  Your comments are welcomed.

Really Random Tuesday #63: Book Winner, Blogiversary, and a New Giveaway

Am I having déjà vu? Please help me to congratulate petite! Petite is the lucky winner of Last Train to Omaha by Ann Whitely-Gillen.  Congratulations, petite!  Last month, I featured a guest post about writing by Ann Whitely-Gillen, and I hope to read her novel within the next few months. (Petite won a different book here a few months ago.)

Many other giveaways are listed on the right side of my blog, so please take a look before you "click away" from here.  Additionally, I have a wonderful new giveaway at the end of this post, to show my appreciation for my readers, and to help celebrate my blogiversary.

5 years!  Can you believe it?  I started this book blog in May of 2008.  Time flies when you're blogging about books!

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On International Women's Day, March 8, I posted my review of No Ocean Here, a new collection of poems by Sweta Srivastava Vikram, part of the World Voices series.  Recently, No Ocean Here ranked #6 for Asian-American poetry for Kindle sales.  One of the poems in this powerful book, Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome, is featured in an AIDS awareness film, The Dawn.  And India-based Bell Bajao, a cultural and media campaign that calls on men and boys to take a stand against domestic violence, published the same poem as part of Violence Against Women Awareness Month.  Award-winning writer Sweta Srivastava Vikram and Modern History Press are generously offering an international giveaway for two copies of No Ocean Here (US/Canada/UK: print copy or ebook; other countries: ebook).

• To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment.
• For another chance at winning, become a follower of this blog, or let me know that you're already a follower.
• For an additional chance, post about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. 

Enter by 5 PM PDT on Monday, May 27.  One winner will be selected randomly and announced on Tuesday, May 28.  Good luck!

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Appearing on random Tuesdays, Really Random Tuesday is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes, photos--any blogging and book-related matters you can think of.  If you have miscellaneous book news to gather up and are inspired by this idea, "grab" the button for use on your own blog, then add your link to the "master" Mister Linky on the Really Random Tuesday page.

Thanks for reading!

For International Women's Day: No Ocean Here

As I read these poems, I became upset and angry, and I asked myself a single question.  Why?

March is National Women's History Month, and March 8 is International Women's Day, a day to honor the achievements of women globally.  I thought it would be a fitting time to feature No Ocean Here by Sweta Srivastava Vikram, published in 2013, part of the World Voices series.  These powerful poems are stories in verse, heartbreaking, haunting, and often horrific accounts of women and girls in various parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Like a gypsy with no shoes,

I walk humbly through cultures,

documenting stories

for women without a voice.
~Sweta Srivastava Vikram, No Ocean Here

Most of the poems have a short preface, which sets up the particular situation featured in the poem. I've listed a couple of examples below.

It's been estimated that over 20,000 women in the Middle East and Asia, where Islam is practiced, are killed by their family members if the latter thinks the victim has brought disgrace to the family or community. ~Honor Killing  

In some parts of Gaza, mayit nar (acid) is thrown on women who don't cover their faces. ~Mayit Nar 

Every year, thousands of girls are trafficked from Nepal into India for commercial sex work.  Most of these girls come from poor families, so they are lured by the promise of employment or marriage. ~Brothel

There are numerous references to the ocean in this book, starting with the first poem, which has the same title as the book, and is an introductory poem about the general plight of women in these countries. 

I awaken in a cruel world--  

no ocean here 

Inspired by true stories and interviews, Sweta Srivastava Vikram's new work is a courageous, compelling, and compassionate collection, which gives these women a much needed voice against violence and oppression.  Over 40 poems depict the plights of women and girls in these developing countries, who've suffered too long in silence--and who desperately deserve to be heard. 

Mailbox Monday

Well, at least we get a month, right?

I was honored to receive a new collection of poetry, No Ocean Here, by award-winning poet, novelist, and blogger Sweta Srivastava Vikram, to review for Women's History Month (March) and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (May).  This book presents 43 poems, many of which are hauntingly heartbreaking narratives of women subjected to violence and opression in various parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Mailbox Monday is a terrific way to highlight new books and reading-related items.  Created by Marcia, who has set up several book blogs as well as a Mailbox Monday blog, this meme has been "on tour" for the past few years.  Caitlin from Chaotic Compendiums is hosting Mailbox Monday for the month of March.  What new goodies were in your mailbox recently?