Trees shivering and sacred forests know every little secret of your in the Crowbite of avid bird photographer writer poet nitoo das. The slim roll begins in Mawphlang, perhaps named after the sacred forest of Khasi Hills near Shillon, Meghalaya. Finally, the poem reads: “The trees tremble tightly. /They know everything about me.” When Das writes: “They know everything about me,” there is a tree (or nature itself) witnessing her inner life, history, and struggle. Conflict narratives are often against self, society, or nature. Here, Das “self” nature.
This story of the same name, Crowbite, tells the myth of Bhobhai, a man who embodies freedom and spiritual autonomy for the crow. In many senses, this is a modern folk story. Bhobhai roams freely, perceives other people’s secrets and enjoys public joy. He seeks purification in the sacred rivers, but escapes religion. This poem captures his journey as a transcendent figure with social expectations.
Crowbite is a collection of poems written by Das. She presents a collection, nature, place and self intersecting with the power and grace of quiet. Das is from Guwahati, in which she explores the landscapes of Northeastern states, especially Meghalaya and Assam. Her poems originate from specific landscapes, but go beyond the body to explore universal identity themes.
Her writings are known for their geographical location. Several poems are named after specific locations, such as in Laitkynsew, the road to Tawang or the elephant at Ka Kshaid Lai Pateng Khohsiew. Birdwatching clearly informs Darth’s writing and worldview. These places become non-descriptive channels.
Darth is a bird watcher, bird photographer and poet. Through a deep connection with nature, Darth creates a world where time, memory and survival are complexly weaved together. This is embellished by minimal book designs, including illustrations and photos of the author himself. Cover illustrations are courtesy of the Biodiversity Heritage Library. The vivid imagery and sense of place make it a recollection of the external world and internal self, and provides a meditation on autonomy and belonging.
crow
author: Nitoo Das
Publisher: Red River
