Book Title: Jain Spirit 2005 09 No23 Author(s): Jain Spirit UK Publisher: UK Young JainsPage 58
________________ ART & LITERATURE INFLUENCED BY THE TEACHINGS OF AHIMSA AND ANEKANTVADA, ACCLAIMED WRITER ANDREW SAITO ATTEMPTS TO SPREAD LOVE INSPIRATION AND PEACE THROUGH POETRY AS YOU READ THE SELECTIONS BELOW, WE WELCOME YOU TO DISCOVER THE WAYS IN WHICH THIS WRITER INFUSES THE SPIRIT OF JAINISM INTO THE MOST UNEXPECTED SUBJECTS AND MEDIUMS. I used to say your hands had too many veins I used to call them scary and ugly INTERVIEW But I always loved them Because they were warm Because they were soft Because they were you The NewsHour reporter gray-haired in khakis spoke while strolling with a woman who lost her hand to a dull blade she told of her son who drew dinosaurs his bones now lie with their fossils her daughter who liked to sing machetes slit open her songs Your hands the first to clutch me at my birth My hands the last to hold you at your death If you meet this woman on a sunburnt street in Kigali invite her to tea and watch the steam soothe over her wrinkles too many at thirty-two Your veins atrophied into a disappearing act I.V.s drilled into your skin and for tattoos you wore bruises Can you find the corner of her smile as she tastes the canned pineapple you brought on the airplane ODE TO MY MOTHER'S HANDS Can you hear a hint of laughter as she watches the dumb chicken run away from her afternoon shadow But these hands were still yours still warm still soft still you Search for these mere seconds and hold them they will fortify you as you listen to her sing her daughter's favorite song they will be your salve when her voice grows still With your nails glossed and trimmed I understood the purpose of a ring And your hands made the I.V.s immaculate Recall her face when you disembark from your return flight as you grab hold of plastic handles and hoist your luggage from the conveyor belt WWW IAIN SPIRIT COM And to the bruises they gave beauty andrew p. saito 30 august 2000 9:21pm, fsm café 11:17 pm, kingman hall 19 Remember the water that welled in her eyes and disappeared when she showed you the drawing of a stegosaur folded and refolded a hundred times For Personal & Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org Jain Education internationalPage Navigation
1 ... 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94