The Courtesans Reply
Followed by | The Art of Scratching |
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The Courtesans Reply is a poetry pamphlet written by Shazea Quraishi, published as part of
The Courtesans Reply is a long poem sequence voiced by Indian
Poems
‘Tambulasena’ begins in the style of the creation myth, describing the hardened state of the speaker, and continues to focus on a metaphorical physical state. The speaker’s male lover alters her state and shapes her. The final image of the lover climbing the speaker’s hair like a rope emphasises the fantastical in this poem. Like in most of the poems in Quraishi’s collection, eroticism and sexuality are predominant themes. Both the male and female gazes are also addressed.[5]
‘Sukumarika’ is addressed to the courtesan speaker’s lover, Ramasena, begging him to remember the loving and erotic relationship they shared. The kiss becomes the key motif in this poem, repeated in the listing of different types of kisses, such as ‘the devouring kiss’ and ‘the delicate kiss’. This is a motif repeated throughout the work.
‘Pradymnadasi’ is about the sensual experience of erotic biting and the mutual pleasure shared between lovers.[6] The speaker suggests that bite marks left by her lover are as valuable and beautiful as precious stones and jewellery. The poem consists of four stanzas of tercets.
Contents
- The Sixty-Four Arts
- Tambulasena
- Vanarajika
- Ramadasi
- The Days of Chandragupta Maurya
- Sukumarika
- Priyangusena
- Ratisena
- Messenger
- Madhavesana
- Sondasi
- Pradymnadasi
- Devadatta
- Carandasi
- Anangadatta
- Epilogue
References
- ^ "Featured Poem: The Courtesans Reply - Tambulasena". Modern Poetry in Translation. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ "Shazea Quraishi". Speaking Volumes. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ "Shazea Quraishi". Speaking Volumes. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ "The Art of Scratching". Bloodaxe Books. Bloodaxe Books. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ "Shazea Quraishi (poet)". Poetry International Rotterdam. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ David Hart (2015). "Conveying the necessity". Stride Magazine. Retrieved 25 March 2016.