
Terpsichorean
By Shobha Tharoor
Like a dancer,
I step nimbly
from one world
to another.
Here the role of wife,
mother, grandmother,
that call for heavier,
stable, steps,
but sometimes,
swift leaps
and aerobic agility.
There, I bend,
to the graceful,
intricate movements
of a different,
creative, place.
I twirl, I swirl,
I dip, I bob.
Winding,
Spinning,
standing tall.
As women,
we are told
to hold up
half the sky.
But,
it is our firm footing,
that keeps us
in motion.

Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan is an author of children’s books, poet, editor, and nationally celebrated voice-over talent. Her published woks include the award-winning Indi-Alphabet (Mango and Marigold), Prince with a Paintbrush: The Story of Raja Ravi Varma (Westland), It’s Time to Rhyme, (Aleph) and Parvati the Elephant’s Very Important Day (Harper Collins). Shobha was awarded the Rajat Kamal for the Best narration/Voice over at the 68th Film Awards for the film Rhapsody of Rains: Monsoons of Kerala