Sangita Kalarickal
Umbrella Sky over Oaxaca
Our tour guide jabs the tip of her yellow parasol into the asphalt. She tells us about an ancient city under the current one. “So, even though we have frequent earthquakes here,” she gestures at the multi-colored houses around us, “there’s no damage, as you can see.”
I blink in disbelief. Not because there is a city under a city … a stylish scaffolding built in the catacombs. Not because the current buildings are standing strong despite the earth wanting to shake us off like we’re ants at a picnic lunch. But because the older city continues to absorb the impact of so many earthquakes.
family recipe
taming prickly spikes
into mezcal
About the Author
Sangita Kalarickal’s work appears in several journals and anthologies. Her chapbook Mamina showcases free-verse poetry and haikai form. A Pushcart and Touchstone Award nominee, she is the associate editor of Drifting Sands Haibun and conducts the podcast Ripples in the Sand. Dr. Kalarickal lives in the midwest USA with her family and the fantasy characters she writes about.