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Women poets illuminate Metaphor Circle

Women poets illuminate Metaphor Circle

Time of India2 days ago
Lucknow: With verses that pierced the silence and evoked heartfelt applause, Major Ankita Tewari of the Indian Armed Forces set the tone for the inaugural Metaphor Reading Circle, a monthly literary initiative under the banner of Metaphor Lucknow Litfest on Saturday.
Her poems 'Nirbhaya ki Nirasha' and 'Jai Veer' explored two deeply resonant themes, the lingering trauma of gender-based violence and the unwavering spirit of Indian soldiers. Tewari's performance was both a cry for justice and a salute to courage, proving that poetry still holds the power to provoke, heal, and awaken. The evening continued with five more compelling female voices. Shruti Mishra recited Kamala Das' 'Introduction', along with her original works such as 'I Dare to Fly and Chaos of Silence'.
Akansha Pandey presented Rabindranath Tagore's 'Freedom' and her poem 'The Dark Horse'. Aditi Singh shared 'Trapped' by Sanjukta Das Gupta and her own compositions, 'Kahani' and 'Maa'. Smriti Sneha brought emotional gravity with AK Ramanujan's 'River' and her poem 'Currency of Guilt'. Toshani contributed her poem 'Likh Leti Hoon' and a short story 'Ped ka Patta'. The session was moderated by poet and RMLNLU English faculty Alka Singh, who also recited her piece 'Certificate'.
The Reading Circle, to be held monthly until the Metaphor Litfest in Dec, promises to create a space for honest reflection, deep reading, and shared dialogue, where every voice is heard and every word matters.
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