{"id":19293,"date":"2017-11-28T19:27:37","date_gmt":"2017-11-28T19:27:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogbox.indianeagle.com\/?p=19293"},"modified":"2018-10-23T20:27:07","modified_gmt":"2018-10-23T20:27:07","slug":"rukmini-kalamangalam-houston-youth-poet-laureate-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indianeagle.com\/travelbeats\/rukmini-kalamangalam-houston-youth-poet-laureate-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"This Indian American Girl Becomes Houston\u2019s Youth Poet Laureate for Her Poem on Hurricane Harvey"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been three months since Hurricane Harvey hit the Gulf Coast of the United States in August 2017.<\/strong> It caused an irrecoverable loss to Houston and left many residents with traumatic memories of the devastation, which drove Indian American Rukmini Kalamangalam to pen a heart-touching poem \u201cAfter Harvey.\u201d<\/p>\n

A first-generation Indian American resident of Houston, Rukmini Kalamangalam captured the most disheartening moments of Hurricane Harvey, pictured struggles for survival, and narrated about the futility of life in the hands of ferocious nature in her poem \u201cAfter Harvey.\u201d She has received Houston\u2019s Youth Poet Laureate title for her soul-stirring poem on Hurricane Harvey in Texas. (Read the poem below)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Houston<\/a><\/p>\n

The first Indian American to be awarded Houston\u2019s Youth Poet Laureate title, Rukmini Kalamangalam studies at Carnegie Vanguard High School in Houston Independent School District.<\/strong> This prestigious honor from Houston Mayor\u2019s Office of Cultural Affairs, Houston Public Library, and Writers in the Schools entitles Rukmini to a number of benefits including a scholarship.<\/p>\n

Being a poet laureate of Houston<\/span><\/a>, she will act as Cultural Arts Advisor to Houston Mayor\u2019s Youth Council<\/strong>. Her work will be published in Houston Chronicle for one year. She is also eligible for one-year tenure of mentorship from Houston\u2019s Poet Laureate, Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton.<\/p>\n

Also Check: Role of Indian Americans in Hurricane Harvey Relief Work<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Rukmini Kalamangalam applied for Houston\u2019s Youth Poet Laureate title several times earlier. She was required to submit five poems and three essays along with a resume to enter the competition every time. A board of experts interviews five finalists among the participants and selects only two every year. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner selected Rukmini for Houston\u2019s Youth Poet Laureate 2017 title.<\/p>\n

Rukmini does not want to rest on her laurels. Rather, she is all set to create a dedicated space for budding poets and young artists to share their creative work and experiences with each other<\/strong>. She does also plan to start a column in a local publication for students to get their poems published. Houston\u2019s Young Poet Laureate 2017, Rukmini Kalamangalam knows no full stop until she initiates poetry readings in public places.<\/p>\n

\"Houston<\/a><\/p>\n

Tried not to imagine what it would feel like to be drowning again<\/em><\/p>\n

So soon after the taste of stolen air<\/em><\/p>\n

Replaced the salty breathlessness of rising tides<\/em><\/p>\n

The first rain after the hurricane<\/em><\/p>\n

We were ready before the flash-flood warning, already watching as<\/em><\/p>\n

Water lapped at the curb<\/em><\/p>\n

Feasted on the rotted remains of gutted houses<\/em><\/p>\n

Tried to wash away the evidence of its crimes<\/em><\/p>\n

The first rain after the hurricane<\/em><\/p>\n

We saw a pack of wild dogs at CVS<\/em><\/p>\n

Snarling and slavering in red wellington boots<\/em><\/p>\n

They watched us with hungry eyes<\/em><\/p>\n

Snouts sniffing the air for threats from the sky & each other<\/em><\/p>\n

The first rain after the hurricane,<\/em><\/p>\n

The water washed away as quick as it had come<\/em><\/p>\n

Leaving streets dark & empty &<\/em><\/p>\n

Water still priced 3.99 a gallon<\/em><\/p>\n

We scoured the clouds for signs of false promises<\/em><\/p>\n

The first rain after the hurricane,<\/em><\/p>\n

We tethered our homes together,<\/em><\/p>\n

Waited to become chains of floating memories<\/em><\/p>\n

Prayed for a second chance at survival,<\/em><\/p>\n

Our heads still bowed as the rain evaporated, leaving only stillness behind<\/em>.<\/p><\/span><\/div>\n

This story is part of our continued effort at Indian Eagle to promote achievements of Indians in USA. We not only strive to make\u00a0US to India travel\u00a0<\/a>cheaper but also cater inspiring stories, community news, and\u00a0travel updates<\/a>\u00a0to Indian Americans through our free newsletters. If you have any story to tell or share, do feel free to write to us at share@blogbox.indianeagle.com.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It has been three months since Hurricane Harvey hit the Gulf Coast of the United States in August 2017. It caused an irrecoverable loss to Houston and left many residents with traumatic memories of the devastation, which drove Indian American Rukmini Kalamangalam to pen a heart-touching poem \u201cAfter Harvey.\u201d A first-generation Indian American resident of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19298,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[102,276,227,326],"yoast_head":"\nRukmini Kalamangalam: Houston\u2019s Youth Poet Laureate 2017<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Indian American Rukmini Kalamangalam became Houston's Youth Poet Laureate of 2017 for her heart-touching poem 'After Harvey' on Hurricane Harvey in Texas.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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