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)