Lina Krishnan is a poet and abstract artist in Pondicherry. She has a chapbook of nature verse, Small Places, Open Spaces, in collaboration with Australian poet Valli Poole.

Lina Krishnan

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Traditions in contamination

In medieval Europe, on a country path
One wasn't very likely to run bang into a leper
His bell would ring out, warn in time
And a hooded figure would efface itself

India has a longer history of untouchable beings
Their very shadows polluting. If they knew
What was good for them, they'd keep their distance

Old enshrined norms are now back in new avatars
Without accompanying guilt. Technology aids
Bringing all the bells and whistles we need
To call our world to heel

A contagion justifies remoteness
From those already at mind's length