T

The Missing Anklet

by Leela Soma


No trial, truth murdered in cold blood, an innocent man slain. 

Kannagi stormed the palace in rage, the woman’s wrath unrestrained 

At the palace the diamonds spilled forth from the anklet she threw on the floor  

Her anger glinted in flawless brilliance, reflected bright on mirrored door 

The pearls on the queen’s ankle quivered, the rubies contained. 

 

The court rose as one, the voice loud across the brocaded expanse  

‘I demand justice,’ the cry of the brave widow rent the air, her trembling stance 

As she held her other anklet high and cursed Madurai be raised by fire 

Enflamed, the truth emerges, king relents, and history records her ire. 

 

 

 ‘Silapathikaram’ (5th C BCE a Tamil epic.) 

Leela Soma

Leela Soma was born in Madras, India and now lives in Glasgow. Her poems and short stories have been published in a number of anthologies and publications, including the National newspaper The Scotsman, The Grind, New Voices and Gutter magazine. She won the Margaret Thomson Davis Trophy for her novel ‘Twice Born’ (2008.) Her second novel ‘Bombay Baby’ was published by Dahlia Publishing Limited in 2011. ‘Boxed In’ a short story collection e-book was published by The Pot Hole Press in 2013. She was commissioned along with 21 other writers and artists to write a story for Glasgow Women’s Library anthology 21 Revolutions for its 21 st birthday in 2013. One of her stories is in the anthology, launched on August 7th 2015, ‘Butterfly Rammy’ a commissioned short story for the Edinburgh Fringe show 2015. Her story ‘Pavilion’ was published in the anthology ‘Joe Stepped off the Train’ (4/4/2016) and raised £750 for the charity War Child. She is working on her third novel a crime fiction set in Glasgow’s West End.

Her first self –published pamphlet was ‘From Madras to Milngavie.’ Some of her poems have been in Gutter magazine, New Voices, The Grind, and Visual Verse. Her poems has been published in the magazine Steel Bellows, in USA. She is working on a poetry collection with a working title ‘Tartan and Turmeric.’
She has served on the committee for the Milngavie Books and Arts Festivals and on the Scottish Writer's Centre Committee.

Her work reflects her dual heritage of India and Scotland.