Saudade

January 29, 2014 | 1 min read

A short poem of remembrance for Ma.
My mobile screen reads "Ma", and I disconnect
My mobile screen
reads “Ma”, and
I disconnect

No longer active
Yet never dead,
she lies still.

The winter afternoons
short and crisp
dry but
smooth – I
take her up and nurse
in my palm.

I make her ring
my mobile screen
reads “Ma”, and
I disconnect
then connect
again, pause.

Ma’s mobile,
not Ma-
Only in dreams.

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Amitava Nag is an independent film critic based in Kolkata and editor of Silhouette. His most recent books on cinema are Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee, 16 Frames and Smriti Sattwa o Cinema. His earlier writings include the acclaimed books Satyajit Ray’s Heroes and Heroines published by Rupa and Beyond Apu: 20 Favourite film roles of Soumitra Chatterjee published by Harper Collins India. He also writes poetry and short fiction in Bengali and English – observing life in a platter. He can be reached at amitavanag.net.

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1 Comment
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Madhu Verma
Madhu Verma
12 years ago

Wonderful lines…!!!

“I make her ring
my mobile screen
reads “Ma”, and
I disconnect
then connect
again, pause.”

Truly, mobiles have brought people closer. Even if it is only an impression, you still get the feeling that the person is around. She is not there, she is no longer there, but she is calling… Beautiful!

Keep sharing your nice thoughts.

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