India, April 27 -- 5. The Shame You Named, The Love I Kept

You felt humiliated To be loved by a Pariah.

You were ashamed To be loved by black skin.

You felt degraded To be loved by a proletarian.

But I was honoured That I met you twenty-four years ago, That this feeling: so fierce, so beautiful Has been my heartbeat ever since.

From the moment I saw you in Pondicherry, Your name became my every breath.

And then you said, "You Dalit bastard, How dare you love my Naga skin?"

Twenty-four years of feeling Have never vanished, Even as my Dalit skin Crossed a minefield of humiliation In your Dimapur.

6. Forbidden Fruit

I was forbidden when I was born, untouchable. forbidden the day I was born, untouchable. I was forbidden when I was b...