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and has since been widely anthologised. The poem has been frequently quoted in scholarly analysis of contemporary
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The poem has received critical acclaim since its first publication in 2000 in the book
24:. The poem won First Prize in the Ninth All India Poetry Competition conducted by
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20:" is an Indian poem by the Indian English writer and translator
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Ninth
National Poetry Competition 2000 – Award Winners
224:"Fourteen Contemporary Indian Poets – Rana Nayar in
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58:And dazzles you with a reckless, innocent smile,
291:Works originally published in Indian magazines
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69:All those years of prudent upbringing,
104:And turn your face away in disgust.
61:Not of invitation, merely inviting.
55:And then he looks full in your face
43:You feel an urge to raise your hand
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84:The hardened core of civilisations
78:The hushed chiding of your mother,
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178:"Award Winning Poems – AIPC 2000"
40:With such irresistible cheekbones
75:The stern concern of your father
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191:Poetry India – Emerging Voices
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87:Rise in indignation within you
81:The sour wisdom of generations
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131:Not to get into the same bus.
261:– Contemporary Indian Poetry
128:Without really thinking why,
49:Simply to know how they feel
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72:Your religion, your values,
18:Of Hypocrisy and Cheekbones
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158:The Poetry Society (India)
125:The next day you take care
26:The Poetry Society (India)
207:Contemporary Indian Poets
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92:And quash the cave-woman
37:Sometimes you see a man
266:"Popular Indian Poems"
213:, Bloodaxe Books, 1996
136:Comments and criticism
101:A grim, ladylike glare
32:Excerpts from the poem
146:Indian English poetry
281:Indian English poems
98:So that you give him
195:Virgo Publications
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250:Shahnaz Habib –
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252:Inside Outside
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52:To your skin.
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226:The Tribune
95:Mercilessly
286:2000 poems
275:Categories
28:in 2000.
122:And then,
66:And then,
152:See also
211:Fulcrum
197:, 1998
164:Notes
113:*****
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