Sukrita Paul Kumar

• Absence​

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Where can I get your new number from?
Yours was the only one that
stayed in my memory always
the rest lay locked in the phone
 
Each time I dial your number
It rings in my ears
With you absent on the other side
O mother
The number continues to be,
But not you
 
Some day
I too will exit
Leaving my numbers behind
 
With people bereft of me
 

SUKRITA PAUL KUMAR (born in Kenya) has been a resident poet and Fellow at the prestigious International Writing Programme, Iowa, USA. Former Fellow, IIAS (Shimla), and honorary faculty, Durrell Centre, Corfu, Greece, she has several collections of poetry, translations, critical works and has held exhibitions of her paintings. She held the Aruna Asaf Ali Chair, University of Delhi. Currently, she is Guest Editor, Indian Literature, Sahitya Akademi. The 2023 Tagore Literary Prize was awarded to her for her book of selected poems, Salt and Pepper. Her latest book of poems, Yellow, has been published by Sahitya Akademi in 2024.

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