Poems explore loss and identity for South Asian diaspora
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Several poets reflect on the experience of being part of the South Asian diaspora, particularly the sense of loss and displacement that comes with leaving their homeland.
One poet’s mother explained she feels most herself when speaking Punjabi, her first language, because her emotions are fully understood without translation. Another poet described their father’s struggle to adapt to a new country, feeling rooted in the soil of Punjab while physically standing on foreign ground.
These poems also address intergenerational trauma and the challenges of healing from past hurts. One writer described a deliberate emotional numbness as a way to cope with ongoing pain, acknowledging that true healing requires confronting difficult memories. The collection suggests that acknowledging and processing these experiences is a crucial step towards building a sense of belonging and finding peace within oneself, envisioning a future where one doesn't carry pain as a constant threat.
