Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree: Poems, Rants, and Short Stories

By Simi K. Rao

Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree: Poems, Rants, and Short Stories by Simi K. Rao

 

Life is not about achieving perfection, it's about reconciling with your imperfections.

Poems are fragments of life. In Simi K. Rao’s unique poetry collection for women, there a

• Language: English
• Publisher: Written Dreams Publishing
• Release date: Nov 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9781951375089

Simi K. Rao

Simi K. Rao was born in India and has been living in the United States for several years. She is a practicing physician and a published author of fiction. This is her first collection of poems and short stories. She currently lives in Denver with her family. You can connect with the author and read more of her work on her website at www.simikrao.com. Follow her on twitter @simikrao and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simikrao.

Book preview

Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree

Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree

Poems, Rants, and Short Stories

Simi K. Rao

Contents

Praise for Works by Simi K. Rao

A Preface Poem

Introduction

Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree

Delirium

Loneliness

Woman

Mother

Silent Scream

Life an Ugly Cousin

On Edge

Windmills of My Mind

The Stranger

War

The Girl in the Window - Part 1

The Girl in the Window - Part 2

Tyrant

The Lone Koi

Dad

Me Is All I Can Be

Walk on the Beach

The Bashful Bride

Crush

Love Is

I Am Nothing

Windows

Coward

White Room

My Day

Changes

How Long

Carnival of Life

Lone Cloud

Mr. Tim

Me and I

Sometimes You Need To…

Passing

Addiction

Growing Pains

The Surface

Butterfly

A Seed of Doubt

Get Out

A River

Liberty

The Good Earth

The Stench of Fear

Free

Crossfire

Voyeurs

Words

Smile

Little Miss Sunshine

Phobia

In Moderation

Jaded

October

Exotic Places

The Witching Hour

Halloween

Rooftops

Winter

Mundane

Red

The Ritual

Shapes of Silence

A Cup of Chai

A Cup of Tea

More Poetry to Enjoy

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Praise for Works by Simi K. Rao

Praise for Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree

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Rao amazes yet again with a true sense of what the modern woman goes through every day. We must battle cultural norms yet rebel in a way to gain our wings to do what we yearn to accomplish. She describes the dual roles of women, no matter where one comes from.

—Sonali Dhir, Advance Practice Nurse, Family Nurse Practitioner

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"I read Simi K Rao’s Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree in two sittings. I simply couldn’t put it down. The short stories were penned with an appreciation for the important placement of imagery, detail, and dialogue. This skill combined with likeable and formidable characters makes for an impressive read. But it is the poetry that grabbed me. Her innate propensity for unearthing our shared humanness, no matter our differences, strikes an emotional tone that allows her reader to not only relate, but to empathize. The poetry is straight up and to the point. It does not have to be interpreted or dissected to be understood. Simi is a straight shooter and certainly had an impact on this reader."

—Dallas H, Author of Shaking the Family Tree

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"Simi K. Rao’s Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree is a compelling collection of poems and short stories. Dr. Rao writes with keen insight about life, love, illness, war, loss, revenge and joy. Her spare and deceptively simple poetry leaves the reader with a new appreciation of our universal humanity, and her short stories will leave you wanting more."

—Marianne Novelli, M.D.

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"Simi K. Rao’s Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree is an engrossing read. Each poem tells a different story which strikes a chord with the readers instantly."

—Priyasree Naskar, Student and Educator

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Praise for The Accidental Wife

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"The Accidental Wife is an intriguing tale of the best-laid plans gone awry but set straight by the humbling hand of destiny. A delightful novel."

—Shobhan Bantwal, Best-selling Author of The Dowry Bride

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Praise for Inconvenient Relations

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In Rao’s debut novel, an arranged Indian marriage sets the stage for an intimate look at the exasperating madness of love… An often intoxicating…will-they-or-won’t-they tale.

—Kirkus Reviews

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"Sassy desi romance—5 stars!

—Rachelle Ayala, Best-selling Author of Michal’s Window

Under the Shade of the Banyan Tree: Poems, Rants, and Short Stories by Simi K. Rao, copyright © 2019 by Simi K. Rao. Author Photo courtesy of the Rao family, © 2019 by the Rao Family. Crush, an excerpt from Inconvenient Relations by Simi K. Rao, copyright © 2016 by Simi K. Rao. Reprinted by permission of the author. Illustrations, including the illustration on the cover art design © 2019 by Amanda Dix. The cover art design, interior layout design, and Chapter head artwork, and logo of Written Dreams Publishing © 2019 by Written Dreams Publishing.

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This is a collection of poems and short stories based on the reflections about life by Simi K. Rao. All poems and short stories are works of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual places or businesses, is entirely coincidental. Written Dreams Publishing does not approve, condone, or disapprove of the situations contained herein.

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All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher, Written Dreams Publishing, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311. Please be aware that if you’ve received this book with a stripped off cover, please know that the publisher and the author may not have received payment for this book, and that it has been reported as stolen property. Please visit www.writtendreams.com to see more of the unique books published by Written Dreams Publishing.

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Publishing Editor: Brittiany Koren

Copy-editor: Samantha Koren

Illustrator: Amanda Dix

Cover Art Designer: Sunny Fassbender

Print Interior Layout Designer: Amanda Dix

Ebook Layout Designer: Maria Connor

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Category: Poetry and Short Prose

Description: A collection of poems and short stories about being a woman in all stages of life.

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-951375-07-2

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-951375-08-9

LOCN: Catalog info applied for.

First Edition published by Written Dreams Publishing in September, 2019.

Ebook Edition published by Written Dreams Publishing in November, 2019.

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Green Bay, WI 54311

To Anica

"When I stopped chasing after PERFECT I found PEACE.

Life is not about achieving perfection, it’s about reconciling with