Iowa Writes

ALOK SACHDEVA
Vision of Ganesha


(elephant)
We swing in six-eight with Charlie Mingus in the background
who is committed to telling of the faucet's incessant drip-drop in a tea cup
(elephant)
I might have to swing by my grandmother's house where she makes tea and sings
about the making of the world
(elephant)
This is a ride this is a writer this is the tide this is the water
(elephant)
The cold sandstone in the building and this red signifies
(elephant)
The moon has laughed at you—you are gluttonous—sweets piled into and
cascading from your belly—you try to hold too much
slow infant
(elephant)
There is more to it than the seeking out of pain—what suffering goads you to
embrace this race that song your fables your sidelines this
(elephant)
Incantation of protection, movement of vulnerability, protraction of longing—swift
smart dancing
(elephant)
Little boy on a rat
(elephant)
One-tusked scribe
(elephant)
Patient waiting
(elephant)
Hold him to your side
(elephant)
Give pause poisonous
(elephant)
Reticulated vocal extension
(elephant)
Carried beyond the page—
Trite story, tight stairway,
elephant.

About Iowa Writes

Since 2006, Iowa Writes has featured the work of Iowa-identified writers (whether they have Iowa roots or live here now) and work published by Iowa journals and publishers on The Daily Palette. Iowa Writes features poetry, fiction, or nonfiction twice a week on the Palette.

In November of 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Iowa City, Iowa, the world's third City of Literature, making the community part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Iowa City has joined Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia as UNESCO Cities of Literature.

Find out more about submitting by contacting iowa-writes@uiowa.edu


ALOK SACHDEVA

Alok Sachdeva studied architecture and poetry as an undergraduate student at Brown University. He then went on to complete his medical training at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI. In July of 2011, Alok will begin his residency training in psychiatry at the University of Michigan Health System. He was a presenter at The Examined Life in Iowa City.

The Examined Life is a three-day conference in April focusing on the links between the science of medicine and the art of writing and sponsored by the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.

This page was first displayed
on June 08, 2011

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