My father sold fake bags in the ’90s, that is to say, knock-offs – not real. Not like invisible to the eye, but by the laws of the country. My father, the bootlegger. Hustler who finds opportunity even in rain. My father was a bear like in the Punjabi tale.Speaking in jaw-clicking and lip-popping. In the thick understory, a bear hears of khichdi from the woodsman and makes a deal to gather wood in exchange for a bowl.
Poem, in its entirety, is available in the printed version of the current issue.
Bio:
Puneet Dutt is a poetry editor at the Fiddlehead. Her book The Better Monsters was a finalist for the Trillium Book Award for Poetry and was shortlisted for the Raymond Souster Award. She is a founding editorial board director at Canthius and resides in Markham with her partner and two children.