Grief

 

When grief visits it needs to be accommodated.
No use in wishing it away. Grief is a tenacious guest. 
When grief visits the recently bereaved
and sobs will not be denied,
it's no use pushing it away.
The door is open and grief is here to visit us all.
This grief is everyone's. 
A hush, hush and a there, there or a pull yourself together,
is no way to entertain this guest. 
When grief visits let your own gut and heart ache again in unison,
and all the loved ones passed will come again,
and their absence will become a presence, in grief.
Stand together and let grief have its time.
Grief’s passing through this house with bitter beauty.
Let the door stand open, and honour it.

15 May 2023
© Tina Shettigara

Jai Maa

 

To all mothers
To mothers who are no longer with us
To mothers whose children are no longer with us
To new mothers
To expectant mothers
To the ones who longed to be mothers but missed out
To the ones who have mothered others who were not their own children but have done it with love
To grandmothers
To the Divine Mother herself who births the universe in every moment.
To you.
Love and awe.

Thank you.

Jai Maa!

 

Mother’s Day 2023

 

© Tina Shettigara

Photo of me with offering to Chamundeshwari January 2019, taken by Vittala Shettigara

Morning in Udupi

 

Light filters through eyelids
Sound of rain,
Somewhere, a bell.
Another day begins.

Rolling out the mat
First decent rain of season.
The peacocks call.
Tuning into the body

All sensation in awareness,
The sound of rain,
Kitten mews,
Peacocks cry,

Puja drums, bells,
Sensation, dripping water.
All in awareness,
Awareness is all.

 5 May 2023

 © Tina Shettigara