If Only It Were Spring Everyday: Mohua Chinappa Explores Love Amid Adversity

Mohua Chinappa's collection of poems in If Only It Were Spring Everyday (Srishti) explores love, respect, and resilience in the face of adversity. In this collection, love is celebrated, and pain is felt deeply, reminding us of the fragility of the human experience. Through her words, Mohua invites readers to find solace amidst the storms of life and to embrace the hope that springs eternal, even in the darkest of times.

Here's an excerpt from Mohua Chinappa's If Only It Were Spring Everyday

Bilkis Jaan

The rapists Roam free

The women cower Hide like roaches

Their antenna shaking furiously 

With the fear of death.

All it takes

Is another foot 

Over their belly 

Another hand 

Over their mouth

They can’t utter a word 

Or a scream anymore.

I MET ELENA BY THE BRIDGE

I met Elena by the bridge 

Of the golden 

River Arno.

Elena was dressed like a queen 

Wearing an emerald green silk dress 

Red lipstick on her thin lips

All in place

Not a bleed anywhere.

We smiled 

Exchanged 

Our female 

Camaraderie

She offered to click

 My photo

And I offered to do the same.

Elena’s smile couldn’t hide the tears behind her eyes 

A life lived in the promise

Of love in return.

Her wrinkles were shining 

Like stardust on her kind face

Her deep neckline 

Couldn’t care to hide 

The children

She had birthed 

And the breasts 

Now dry

And unused.

Finally Elena

Looked like she was home 

All in herself

A totality 

In herself.

She stood in solitude 

By the bridge.

She confided to me

She always wanted to come 

Here

This exact spot 

To watch

The setting sun 

On the magical 

River Arno.

But she wasn’t free

Free from accountability 

From judgement.

Free

From the life 

That wasn’t The way

It turned out 

To be.

The sun was now a dark orange 

The river turned red

In its belly

Reflecting the summer sun 

Like our bleeding uterus 

And

Our unfulfilled promises.

Arno glowed,

Surreal and womanly.

Elena said goodbye 

To me

As she soaked 

In the beauty 

Of the place

Meant for romantics 

For seekers

Like she 

And 

Me.

Couples kissed 

Made promises 

To keep.

Arno flowed 

Knowing

The course shall run, 

Of age

Of loss 

Of life.

Many Elenas 

Many Mohuas 

Will stand

In  awe 

With hope 

Dashed 

Some 

Resurrected.

Yet Arno will continue 

To flow,

Waiting 

To meet 

The ocean. 

Her lover

Her resting place 

All

No longer in vain 

In her golden glow.

TO ALL THE DAUGHTERS OF TOMORROW

You own your own body 

Mind

Moral standards

Own yourself like nobody 

Ever can

Or should.

Anyone 

Who wishes  

To own you 

Has to learn  

To own 

Your soul 

Spirit

But before 

Any of that

He has to fucking own himself

In his totality

Honesty 

Freedom 

Morality.

Also remember 

The immoral

Who wear their immorality 

Shamelessly

On their sleeves are the 

Most moral

Of them all

Extracted with permission from Mohua Chinappa's If Only It Were Spring Everyday (Srishti)