Sharing my poem that was recently published in the 10th Anniversary issue of Kweli Journal, an online publication that has long been doing the important work of showcasing and celebrating the voices of people of color.
Having grown up in India, I was exposed to the Hindustani ghazal that seemed omnipresent in the cultural milieu, but I first encountered a ghazal in the English language through a wonderful online class taught a few years ago by Peter Kline. I deeply admire the rich history and tradition of the ghazal form and love the ghazal for its, as the late Agha Shahid Ali described it, “ravishing disunities.”
My gratitude to Laura Pegram, the editor, for giving my poem a home in Kweli and my humble thanks to all who have given their input towards shaping this piece. I hope you enjoy it! Please check out the poem at the link below:
Lessons Ghazal by Preeti Parikh