Thursday, June 07, 2018

After Husk by Margot Armbruster



 After   Husk by Margot Armbruster


What if I wake up a  recovered patient
Ready for discharge?

In  orthodox rooted family
I have oft heard a  query by some
Affected, “ prayer  and  fasting on
Religious grounds – beyond limits-
are   they  necessary?  No  viable
answer except discipline and convention.
To propitiate   Gods  and  the base for
Ritualistic  practices.
I have witnessed even children are
Tortured in the name of fasting, and
rigorous discipline. Prayer  with
closed  eyes and  meditation, chanting
and  fasting for  hours- hunger suppressed.
Anorexia  giddiness. A  prayer offered is
Always there, a  prayer  after  prayer,
Appeal to   Gods for fulfillment of vows;
But prayer with starved stomachs and 
Delayed  eating  viscera and   weak bones
and  lose of  weight, even  loss of memory.
What  if  I wake up, a  recovered  patient,
 Ready for discharge?
What if I wake up with a  sturdy body, bright as
Sunlight and  straight?



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