Autobiographical - Eunice D'Souza

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

This is a piece by a well known Indian poetess. She used to teach in a college where I had many friends but sadly, before I came to know of her poetry, she had retired. The Literature department of the college are bubbling with the legends she left behind.

Right, now here it comes.
I killed my father when I was three.
I have muddled through several affairs
and always come out badly.
I've learnt almost nothing from experience.
I head for the abyss with
monotonous regularity.

My enemies say i'm a critic because
really I'm writhing with envy
and anyway need to get married.

My friends say I'm not
entirely without talent.

Yes, Iv'e tried suicide,
I tidied my clothes but
left no notes. I was surprised
to wake up in the morning.

One day my soul
stood outside me
watching me twitch
and grin and gibber
the skin tight
over my bones

I thought the whole world
was trying to rip me up
cut me down go through me
with a razor blade

then I discovered
a cliche: that's what I wanted
to do to the world.

Eunice de Souza.

./w

Comments

[lunar-endeavor.livejournal.com]

Wow. It reminds me of a number of other poets without really feeling derivative of any of them. Just highly allusive. Really nice. The last seven lines really caught me.