The Multitudes Within: A Thematic Analysis of Anita Nahal’s Poetry in What’s Wrong with Us Kali Women? and Hey…Spilt milk is Spilt, Nothing Else

Abstract

The poetry of Anita Nahel reflects on myriad themes, experiences and life in general. A close reading of her poetry would reveal that they were impacted by experiences she drew from the various roles she took during her own life - citizen, immigrant, academician and single mother and also her travels throughout the world. Anita Nahal has authored four poetry collections and co-edited three anthologies, besides making her contributions to children’s literature and flash fiction. She was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2022 and her poems have been widely anthologized.

This paper attempts to analyse Nahal’s poetry in two anthologies: What is Wrong With Us Kali Women (2021) and Hey, Spilt Milk is Spilt, Nothing Else (2018). As a contemporary diasporic Indian woman poet, Nahal engages with themes like racism, sexism, ageism, mental health, immigration, poverty, domestic violence, and the environment, among others. She writes about the endless injustices that abound all over the world.