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Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You
Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You cements Meena Kandasamy as one of the most exciting, radical thinkers at work today. These poems chronicle wanting, art-making, and the practising of resistance and solidarity in the face of a hostile state. Here, the personal is political, and Kandasamy moves between sex, desire, family and wider societal issues of caste, the refugee crisis and freedom of expression with grace and defiance. This is a bold, unforgettable collection by a poet who compels us to sit up and listen.
109 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2024
8 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Meena Kandasamy
32 books811 followersDR MEENA KANDASAMY is a poet-activist with over 200,000 followers. She has been translated into more than 20 languages. Her previous novel, When I Hit You, was shortlisted for the Women's Prize. Her viral poetry collection, Ms Militancy, is a symbol of feminist rebellion across India. In 2022, Meena was awarded the PEN Germany Prize for being a "fearless fighter for human rights.” She has two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 20, 2023
This is the best poetry collection I've read this year, by far. Everything Meena Kandasamy writes is brilliant.
April 19, 2024
These poems offer reflections on living in an insane and treacherous world and dares to be obvious, loud, political, angry, hopeful and full of love all at the same time.
Poems that I will keep coming back to.
Poems that I will keep coming back to.
June 3, 2024
A good collection, impeded by clunky cadence and long toothed sentimentality.
Meena Kandasamy is a better writer than most of the writers I read. This collection is a testament to her command of language and demonstrates a playful approach to form. However, for quite a lot of the collection, the writing did not have much effect on me. I found them to be empty sentiments (I Do Not Know Death), clunky (Diagnosed with Auto-Immune Disorder, I thought of My Country Self-Destructing) or just a little trite (We Are Learning by Heart). Which is not to say I didn't find the exploration of themes within those poems to be extremely satisfying.
Most of the poems centre around the authors Tamil poet identity, her relationship to Britain and authoritarian governments. However that broad summary of the collection's themes feels reductionist, there is a wide sweep of Kandasamy's gaze which interrogates these themes to the point new themes of all emerge to be explored in turn. Indeed, Kandasamy has gone to the effort of giving context to the more rigorous poems at the endnotes, and I'd advise any future reader to use these as readily as they can, because they add extremely helpful shadowing to the poems.
My favourite poems concerned political oppression (Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You), visa struggles (Visa Gods), violence against women (How to Make a Btch Give Up Beef), and language (The Discreet Charm of Neoliberalism). One poem took each line from a tweet, another deconstructs a recalled book about Hindus, and a couple are explicitly directed at false imprisonment. It seems canny to me that so much modern fiction is concerned around the idea of 'it could happen here', yet Kandasamy's poetry is such a well realised demonstration of it very much happening already.
Whilst the language and form were not my particular taste, I did enjoy reading this and it has a fantastic range of themes to explore. Well worth reading and wrestling with yourself.
Meena Kandasamy is a better writer than most of the writers I read. This collection is a testament to her command of language and demonstrates a playful approach to form. However, for quite a lot of the collection, the writing did not have much effect on me. I found them to be empty sentiments (I Do Not Know Death), clunky (Diagnosed with Auto-Immune Disorder, I thought of My Country Self-Destructing) or just a little trite (We Are Learning by Heart). Which is not to say I didn't find the exploration of themes within those poems to be extremely satisfying.
Most of the poems centre around the authors Tamil poet identity, her relationship to Britain and authoritarian governments. However that broad summary of the collection's themes feels reductionist, there is a wide sweep of Kandasamy's gaze which interrogates these themes to the point new themes of all emerge to be explored in turn. Indeed, Kandasamy has gone to the effort of giving context to the more rigorous poems at the endnotes, and I'd advise any future reader to use these as readily as they can, because they add extremely helpful shadowing to the poems.
My favourite poems concerned political oppression (Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You), visa struggles (Visa Gods), violence against women (How to Make a Btch Give Up Beef), and language (The Discreet Charm of Neoliberalism). One poem took each line from a tweet, another deconstructs a recalled book about Hindus, and a couple are explicitly directed at false imprisonment. It seems canny to me that so much modern fiction is concerned around the idea of 'it could happen here', yet Kandasamy's poetry is such a well realised demonstration of it very much happening already.
Whilst the language and form were not my particular taste, I did enjoy reading this and it has a fantastic range of themes to explore. Well worth reading and wrestling with yourself.
May 4, 2023
A collection of poems that is nearly impossible to pin down or box into categories. There's a bit of everything that defines Kandasamy's work here: linguistic play, decolonial analysis, history keeping (personal and national), feminist anti-caste defiance, romance, struggling families, Hindu mythological retellings, inner strife, and just a lot of irresistible mischief.
My favourite poem was about the cat closing her eyes.
My favourite poem was about the cat closing her eyes.
June 14, 2023
Kandasamy has quickly become one of favourite authors working currently. although it's my third book I've read by her, can safely recommend any.
April 9, 2024
An intersection of the female experience with poetry and politics. Intense 😍
October 21, 2024
After hearing Meena Kandasamy read some poems from this collection at an author's event, I quickly purchased the book - and it did not disappoint. Kandasamy's writing style is beautiful and her poetry covers an array of topics from politics, sex, desire, family, freedom of expression, displacement and more. This collection reminded me of how profound the art-form of poetry can be.
February 27, 2024
I listened to this as an audiobook read by the poet herself and it was an incredible experience. The ease with languages, stories, personal emotions and clear, brave ideological stances meld together in this collection is awe-inspiring. So many of the subjects are difficult to even talk about, let alone create art out of, but Kandasamy manages to imbue the beautiful words with pain, anger, grief, and a strong stance of resistance to the fascism rife in India at the moment. I will definitely be buying a physical copy of this collection, and rereading it many, many more times.
May 2, 2024
India has undergone significant socio-economic and politico-cultural changes in the past decade. The rise of the BJP in 2014 and Hindutva, under whose influence, further persecution of minorities and an increase in atrocities against the Left-wing groups. Post the CAA protests-turned-riots in 2020, India faced the COVID pandemic along with the rest of the world, which left millions of casualties and thousands of deaths in its wake. In recent times, the pro-Palestine protestors too face similar persecution as the CAA protestors. Citizens demanding justice and progress are treated worse than terrorists if they dare put their "right to speech" to use in a democratic country (heading towards pure, unadulterated fascism). These instances have made a larger impact on the political scene and remain visible to the naked eye. Yet, there remain numerous faintly discernible instances in the daily lives of the Indian populace which have worked towards the culmination of these larger socio-political events that become a part of history.
It is precisely these smaller, personal, individual experiences and resulting narratives buried under the regime that Meena Kandasamy gives voice to through her writing in her 2024 title, Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You, published by Juggernaut. Kandasamy has been known to be a radical voice and a "one-woman political movement," and the same has often been reflected in her prior works like Ms Militancy, Touch, The Gypsy Goddess and When I Hit You. The same can be said for this collection as well, which has emerged over a decade after her last book of poems. But this book is also a homage to those who shaped her, her comrade and her lovers, and those who continue to shape the world we live in, her friends and fellow activists. Yet it is also a mourning of their loss and that of her country. It is a cry for help, a sigh of frustration, and a Kafkaesque prophecy of what may come to those who dare defy the powerful.
In Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You, Kandasamy employs every technique and style at her disposal, making for an anthology that is equal parts activism and experimentation. The collection has been conveniently and aptly divided into five sections, namely "The Poet", "Her Comrade", "Her Lovers", "Her Friends", and "Her Country", reflecting what is mentioned above. She begins with a personal voice in "The Poet": a reflection of the poet's own angst and frustrations. What made the poet and her craft, and how it came to embody a voice is expressed through these poems. In the bi-lingual poem, "A Cat Closing Her Eyes", Kandasamy recalls the girl who was shielded only by her faith in words from a hostile world outside. In "A Sapphic Scar", she writes:
"She also told me, another day, that my presence on the
writing program was 'denominational',"
recalling one of the experiences that carved the poet out of Kandasamy. In "The Seven Stages", she experiments with typography and explores how, like the Sufi, a marginalised community too loves.
"Her Comrade", as evident in the title, is littered with Marxist references and revolves around her relationship(s) with her husband, Comrade Cedric. In poems like "Visa Gods" and "Finding You" Kandasamy demonstrates in verse and in prose (both poetry) how crossing the seas is a mammoth task for the common Indian and how to certain castes and genders, becomes even more inaccessible. It is also an exploration of how the same things become a trigger to a kind of violence that threatens to take everything away from a person. In a similar vein, the following section "Her Lovers" looks at her past romantic experiences and partners. These two sections are what I could term "feminist" as they put up a powerful display of fierce sexuality (the latter more than the former). Unabashedly, Kandasamy states the anguishes and agonies of love, which are tenfold when the love goes beyond the historically imposed caste barriers.
"Her Friends" is a message to the world for and on behalf of Kandasamy's fellow activists and artists: actively working against the violence of the state, from getting arrested and evading arrests to succumbing to paranoia, like a war veteran with PTSD, only without the recognition they deserve but are unable to receive. She writes for the cause of righteousness: for her friends Jaison and Tushar who were unlawfully arrested under UAPA in 2015; for people like Varavara Rao and Prof. G. N. Saibaba; for those who have been named on and off media; for those who are afraid of being named; and her readers subject to oppression by those they call their own. The regime then finds criticism in the final section of the book, "Her Country", culminating in a grand finale; a loud crescendo at the climax that emerges from the margins and rings the loudest at the centre. The poet voices her concerns in a rather violent manner, not in a way that threatens, but that which aims to protect; like a maimed animal attacking her pursuers to protect itself. She openly challenges the state and its ways, poses difficult questions and demands constitutional justice. Meena Kandasamy laments the conditions prevailing in India which she knows she can only write to fight against. She writes,
"Courage is in short supply these days.
Mine, I use for the war on the streets…"
- "The Old Trap"
Yet she is forced to maintain silence, which she does in a Wittgensteinian spirit, when the situation demands it. Though silences are at times powerful, they are often drowned in the noises of the world, and that becomes more evident at the end, and finds expression in the poem, "Process = Punishment":
"the process endless,
the progress pointless"
Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You may not be the best of Kandasamy, but is, in every way possible, the quintessential Kandasamy. This collection, for someone who is yet to be tainted by the activism that Kandasamy stands for, is undoubtedly the gateway into her poetry. This is the prison that one must enter to be free. As in all her works, a prevailing counter-culture finds articulation through this anthology.
"Our friends in prison,
We meet for the first time
Walking inside a forest,
we try to find words
to remember the dead,
read the heartless future,
I walk in step with you,
And watch the leaves fall."
- "Process=Punishment"
It is precisely these smaller, personal, individual experiences and resulting narratives buried under the regime that Meena Kandasamy gives voice to through her writing in her 2024 title, Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You, published by Juggernaut. Kandasamy has been known to be a radical voice and a "one-woman political movement," and the same has often been reflected in her prior works like Ms Militancy, Touch, The Gypsy Goddess and When I Hit You. The same can be said for this collection as well, which has emerged over a decade after her last book of poems. But this book is also a homage to those who shaped her, her comrade and her lovers, and those who continue to shape the world we live in, her friends and fellow activists. Yet it is also a mourning of their loss and that of her country. It is a cry for help, a sigh of frustration, and a Kafkaesque prophecy of what may come to those who dare defy the powerful.
In Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You, Kandasamy employs every technique and style at her disposal, making for an anthology that is equal parts activism and experimentation. The collection has been conveniently and aptly divided into five sections, namely "The Poet", "Her Comrade", "Her Lovers", "Her Friends", and "Her Country", reflecting what is mentioned above. She begins with a personal voice in "The Poet": a reflection of the poet's own angst and frustrations. What made the poet and her craft, and how it came to embody a voice is expressed through these poems. In the bi-lingual poem, "A Cat Closing Her Eyes", Kandasamy recalls the girl who was shielded only by her faith in words from a hostile world outside. In "A Sapphic Scar", she writes:
"She also told me, another day, that my presence on the
writing program was 'denominational',"
recalling one of the experiences that carved the poet out of Kandasamy. In "The Seven Stages", she experiments with typography and explores how, like the Sufi, a marginalised community too loves.
"Her Comrade", as evident in the title, is littered with Marxist references and revolves around her relationship(s) with her husband, Comrade Cedric. In poems like "Visa Gods" and "Finding You" Kandasamy demonstrates in verse and in prose (both poetry) how crossing the seas is a mammoth task for the common Indian and how to certain castes and genders, becomes even more inaccessible. It is also an exploration of how the same things become a trigger to a kind of violence that threatens to take everything away from a person. In a similar vein, the following section "Her Lovers" looks at her past romantic experiences and partners. These two sections are what I could term "feminist" as they put up a powerful display of fierce sexuality (the latter more than the former). Unabashedly, Kandasamy states the anguishes and agonies of love, which are tenfold when the love goes beyond the historically imposed caste barriers.
"Her Friends" is a message to the world for and on behalf of Kandasamy's fellow activists and artists: actively working against the violence of the state, from getting arrested and evading arrests to succumbing to paranoia, like a war veteran with PTSD, only without the recognition they deserve but are unable to receive. She writes for the cause of righteousness: for her friends Jaison and Tushar who were unlawfully arrested under UAPA in 2015; for people like Varavara Rao and Prof. G. N. Saibaba; for those who have been named on and off media; for those who are afraid of being named; and her readers subject to oppression by those they call their own. The regime then finds criticism in the final section of the book, "Her Country", culminating in a grand finale; a loud crescendo at the climax that emerges from the margins and rings the loudest at the centre. The poet voices her concerns in a rather violent manner, not in a way that threatens, but that which aims to protect; like a maimed animal attacking her pursuers to protect itself. She openly challenges the state and its ways, poses difficult questions and demands constitutional justice. Meena Kandasamy laments the conditions prevailing in India which she knows she can only write to fight against. She writes,
"Courage is in short supply these days.
Mine, I use for the war on the streets…"
- "The Old Trap"
Yet she is forced to maintain silence, which she does in a Wittgensteinian spirit, when the situation demands it. Though silences are at times powerful, they are often drowned in the noises of the world, and that becomes more evident at the end, and finds expression in the poem, "Process = Punishment":
"the process endless,
the progress pointless"
Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You may not be the best of Kandasamy, but is, in every way possible, the quintessential Kandasamy. This collection, for someone who is yet to be tainted by the activism that Kandasamy stands for, is undoubtedly the gateway into her poetry. This is the prison that one must enter to be free. As in all her works, a prevailing counter-culture finds articulation through this anthology.
"Our friends in prison,
We meet for the first time
Walking inside a forest,
we try to find words
to remember the dead,
read the heartless future,
I walk in step with you,
And watch the leaves fall."
- "Process=Punishment"
June 22, 2024
"Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You" by Meena Kandasamy is a poignant collection of poems that explores themes of longing, artistic creation, and the ongoing struggle for resistance and solidarity against an oppressive state. Kandasamy fearlessly intertwines personal experiences with pressing political issues, offering a courageous and unflinching look at how individual lives are connected to larger social structures.
At the core of this captivating collection is the idea that personal experiences are inseparable from political issues. Kandasamy skillfully navigates themes of sex, desire, and family, presenting these intimate aspects of life with unfiltered honesty. Her poems boldly portray the vulnerabilities and complexities of human relationships, challenging societal norms and uncovering the deep-rooted inequalities that permeate everyday life.
Kandasamy’s exploration of broader societal issues is equally compelling. She fearlessly confronts the pervasive caste discrimination that continues to impact millions, giving voice to those who are often silenced. Her poems also delve into the refugee crisis, shining a spotlight on the plight of those compelled to flee their homes in search of safety and freedom. Through her vivid imagery and poignant language, Kandasamy captures the despair and resilience of these individuals, compelling readers to confront the injustices endured by marginalized communities.
"Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You" is a powerful and unforgettable collection that demands our attention. Through her eloquent verses, she compels readers to sit up and listen, to engage with her bold perspective, and to reflect on the pressing issues of our time.
This collection is a must-read because It offers a profound exploration of personal and political landscapes, crafted with poetic brilliance, and speaks to the heart of ongoing struggles for justice and equality. Kandasamy’s collection is not just a book of poems; it is a vital, dynamic force that urges readers to listen, reflect, and act.
At the core of this captivating collection is the idea that personal experiences are inseparable from political issues. Kandasamy skillfully navigates themes of sex, desire, and family, presenting these intimate aspects of life with unfiltered honesty. Her poems boldly portray the vulnerabilities and complexities of human relationships, challenging societal norms and uncovering the deep-rooted inequalities that permeate everyday life.
Kandasamy’s exploration of broader societal issues is equally compelling. She fearlessly confronts the pervasive caste discrimination that continues to impact millions, giving voice to those who are often silenced. Her poems also delve into the refugee crisis, shining a spotlight on the plight of those compelled to flee their homes in search of safety and freedom. Through her vivid imagery and poignant language, Kandasamy captures the despair and resilience of these individuals, compelling readers to confront the injustices endured by marginalized communities.
"Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You" is a powerful and unforgettable collection that demands our attention. Through her eloquent verses, she compels readers to sit up and listen, to engage with her bold perspective, and to reflect on the pressing issues of our time.
This collection is a must-read because It offers a profound exploration of personal and political landscapes, crafted with poetic brilliance, and speaks to the heart of ongoing struggles for justice and equality. Kandasamy’s collection is not just a book of poems; it is a vital, dynamic force that urges readers to listen, reflect, and act.
April 19, 2024
-On the edge of life, leaping intona chasm of fear-
Review of 'Tomorrow someone will arrest you' by Meena Kandasamy
Poems by Kandasamy explore fear and acceptance as two interconnected emotions. Life is an exercise in not conquering but accepting and fraternizing with your fears. Kandasamy turns everyday dialogue between self and the world into a mosaic of flowing words.
The poet lives in language, she writer. She deploys words as weapon and caress, they are both jagged protest and an offering made to a lover. She sees the weight of history, unwraps implicit meanings hidden in speech. She has not always given herself to poetry, but here, she returns. Her comrade is steadfast: political, reliable, temperamental.
These poems establish a dialogue between Kandasamy, the hostile state and the one that's connected to both: the reader. What is an emotion? Is it stronger than your own self? How can you familiarize yourself with something that can't be seen or touched?
Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You cements Meena Kandasamy as one of the most exciting, radical thinkers at work today.These poems chronicle wanting, art-making, and the practising of resistance and solidarity in the face of a hostile state. Here, the personal is political, and Kandasamy moves between sex, desire, family and wider societal issues of caste, the refugee crisis, and freedom of expression with grace and defiance.
Review of 'Tomorrow someone will arrest you' by Meena Kandasamy
Poems by Kandasamy explore fear and acceptance as two interconnected emotions. Life is an exercise in not conquering but accepting and fraternizing with your fears. Kandasamy turns everyday dialogue between self and the world into a mosaic of flowing words.
The poet lives in language, she writer. She deploys words as weapon and caress, they are both jagged protest and an offering made to a lover. She sees the weight of history, unwraps implicit meanings hidden in speech. She has not always given herself to poetry, but here, she returns. Her comrade is steadfast: political, reliable, temperamental.
These poems establish a dialogue between Kandasamy, the hostile state and the one that's connected to both: the reader. What is an emotion? Is it stronger than your own self? How can you familiarize yourself with something that can't be seen or touched?
Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You cements Meena Kandasamy as one of the most exciting, radical thinkers at work today.These poems chronicle wanting, art-making, and the practising of resistance and solidarity in the face of a hostile state. Here, the personal is political, and Kandasamy moves between sex, desire, family and wider societal issues of caste, the refugee crisis, and freedom of expression with grace and defiance.
April 29, 2024
In a poem titled A Poem On Not Writing Poems, Meena Kandasamy asks us, Why rage at all?, referring to all the cruelty that surrounds us—that we as people of the state keep suffering, that the state as an institution keeps inflicting. Though we do not get instant gratification or an immediate answer to the question, we do, however, get to witness as she weaves a tapestry of reasons throughout this collection.
If poetry has ever been political, it has never been as much as Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You. It’s almost a political manifesto, a little book that is full of rage, compassion, beauty, and questions. Here, Kandasamy leaves no stone unturned. Here, she performs an autopsy on love, on government—both national and international—on the refugee crisis, on being marginalised, on being jailed, and on not being jailed. There’s a dexterity to these people. The use of words in places you would not expect, and they fill the mouth perfectly while read aloud, Lines such as “Or, is she the one/ who speaks to show/ she is not yet dead?”, or “One does not stop speaking about things/ which no longer exist” lines that stops you, makes you think them like they contain within themselves a lot more than they let on. This is a beautiful, beautiful collection that not only enrages the reader but also sheds light on where we went so utterly wrong.
If poetry has ever been political, it has never been as much as Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You. It’s almost a political manifesto, a little book that is full of rage, compassion, beauty, and questions. Here, Kandasamy leaves no stone unturned. Here, she performs an autopsy on love, on government—both national and international—on the refugee crisis, on being marginalised, on being jailed, and on not being jailed. There’s a dexterity to these people. The use of words in places you would not expect, and they fill the mouth perfectly while read aloud, Lines such as “Or, is she the one/ who speaks to show/ she is not yet dead?”, or “One does not stop speaking about things/ which no longer exist” lines that stops you, makes you think them like they contain within themselves a lot more than they let on. This is a beautiful, beautiful collection that not only enrages the reader but also sheds light on where we went so utterly wrong.
April 9, 2024
"Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You" by Meena Kandasamy is a powerful testament to the intersections of personal and political struggles. Through her collection of poems, Kandasamy navigates the complexities of desire, resistance, and solidarity in the face of state oppression. With grace and defiance, she delves into intimate realms of sex and family while seamlessly weaving in broader societal issues such as caste discrimination, the refugee crisis, and freedom of expression.
Kandasamy's fearless exploration of these themes cements her as one of the most radical thinkers of our time, challenging readers to confront the harsh realities of the world around them. Her writing style is both lyrical and incisive, captivating readers with its raw honesty and unapologetic approach. Each poem is a revelation, inviting readers to reflect on their own complicity in systems of injustice while inspiring them to take action.
"Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You" is a bold and unforgettable collection that demands to be heard, showcasing Kandasamy's unparalleled talent as a poet and provocateur.
Kandasamy's fearless exploration of these themes cements her as one of the most radical thinkers of our time, challenging readers to confront the harsh realities of the world around them. Her writing style is both lyrical and incisive, captivating readers with its raw honesty and unapologetic approach. Each poem is a revelation, inviting readers to reflect on their own complicity in systems of injustice while inspiring them to take action.
"Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You" is a bold and unforgettable collection that demands to be heard, showcasing Kandasamy's unparalleled talent as a poet and provocateur.
April 1, 2024
The voice is important. Not only the voice to be heard but to marvel in the way the voice speaks out on a range of topics that may seem offbeat but bear the brunt of the beaten track over the years.
The experience of reading this poetry book is not only bi-lingual (Tamil words with translations with English) but also multi-lingual in the context of violence against women, society's performance and the political mayhem that's plaguing us.
Meena doesn't mince words to speak out against the atrocities we face in different aspects of life. To say that she is the representative of a collective voice for women against violence is a major way to say "yes" to this book.
Overall, not only did I relate to what Meena was talking about, but I also felt that certain stanzas were spoken to me by other women. I did feel that though Meena is more favourable in talking about women, the poems also hint at talking about men. After all, while the percentage of victims of violence is more for women than men, men too undergo different kinds of violent deals that change them.
The experience of reading this poetry book is not only bi-lingual (Tamil words with translations with English) but also multi-lingual in the context of violence against women, society's performance and the political mayhem that's plaguing us.
Meena doesn't mince words to speak out against the atrocities we face in different aspects of life. To say that she is the representative of a collective voice for women against violence is a major way to say "yes" to this book.
Overall, not only did I relate to what Meena was talking about, but I also felt that certain stanzas were spoken to me by other women. I did feel that though Meena is more favourable in talking about women, the poems also hint at talking about men. After all, while the percentage of victims of violence is more for women than men, men too undergo different kinds of violent deals that change them.
April 13, 2024
i read this poetry collection recently and wow! what talent!
this was my first meena kandasamy book. i have seen ‘when i hit you’ around for quite some time now but was not ready to pick it up because of the subject matter. however, when i knew that this poetry collection is coming out, i was definitely eager to pick it up because i believe that reading an author’s poetry can be a good introduction to their oeuvre as a whole. so that’s what i did.
in this collection, we see the personal become the political. the poems are powerful and range from a variety of topics related to the position of women in society, caste issues and crimes, abuse of power, censorship, discussions on political issues and so much more. they are real and raw and quite a few of them sent shivers up my spine. o got literal goosebumps as i read the poems, pausing and just reflecting and feeling what i had read.
this is a true masterful work and i am so glad i got the opportunity to read it. many thanks to juggernaut for sending me a review copy!
this was my first meena kandasamy book. i have seen ‘when i hit you’ around for quite some time now but was not ready to pick it up because of the subject matter. however, when i knew that this poetry collection is coming out, i was definitely eager to pick it up because i believe that reading an author’s poetry can be a good introduction to their oeuvre as a whole. so that’s what i did.
in this collection, we see the personal become the political. the poems are powerful and range from a variety of topics related to the position of women in society, caste issues and crimes, abuse of power, censorship, discussions on political issues and so much more. they are real and raw and quite a few of them sent shivers up my spine. o got literal goosebumps as i read the poems, pausing and just reflecting and feeling what i had read.
this is a true masterful work and i am so glad i got the opportunity to read it. many thanks to juggernaut for sending me a review copy!
April 6, 2024
Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You is a masterstroke collection of poems by Meena Kandaswamy.
This collection of poems covers a spectacular range of themes, discrimination, social issues, family, and sex that strick a chord in our senses. Kandaswamy prowess of words makes an intricate personal connect with her readers. Perhaps each poem feels irresistible and unbashed. Kandaswamy's capabilities as a poet thrieves in every page. It was my first time reading her poems, and I felt weirdly attracted and blown away by the magnitude of creativity and intricacy.
'Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You' arrests you in feeling that very few books carry. The poems are blurred on the outside and challenging to delve on the inside. It's a rare beauty where your brain is uncomfortable and yet finds a solace.
Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You is irresistible, bold and unmistakable breath-taking journey of complex emotions with the softness of poetic richness.
This collection of poems covers a spectacular range of themes, discrimination, social issues, family, and sex that strick a chord in our senses. Kandaswamy prowess of words makes an intricate personal connect with her readers. Perhaps each poem feels irresistible and unbashed. Kandaswamy's capabilities as a poet thrieves in every page. It was my first time reading her poems, and I felt weirdly attracted and blown away by the magnitude of creativity and intricacy.
'Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You' arrests you in feeling that very few books carry. The poems are blurred on the outside and challenging to delve on the inside. It's a rare beauty where your brain is uncomfortable and yet finds a solace.
Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You is irresistible, bold and unmistakable breath-taking journey of complex emotions with the softness of poetic richness.
April 1, 2023
Meena Kandasamy's writing is unflinching, and in this book she takes on her critics and opponents with a steely gaze.
The book itself explores politics, identity and structures of power, and she is blazing in how she approaches them.
A particular highlight for me was when Kandasamy directly talks back to those who have opposed her and her work, particularly through lenses of caste, race and gender.
For example, knowing that her words have been twisted and misappropriated, almost entirely in bad faith, she argues back that the thing scaring her opponents most is that she dared to say them, and dared to say them as a woman. Her character is dragged through the mud, and she fires back with just as much power, if not more.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The book itself explores politics, identity and structures of power, and she is blazing in how she approaches them.
A particular highlight for me was when Kandasamy directly talks back to those who have opposed her and her work, particularly through lenses of caste, race and gender.
For example, knowing that her words have been twisted and misappropriated, almost entirely in bad faith, she argues back that the thing scaring her opponents most is that she dared to say them, and dared to say them as a woman. Her character is dragged through the mud, and she fires back with just as much power, if not more.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2024
"Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You" by Meena Kandasamy is a powerful response to her critics, the government, and the world at large. Her use of Tamil and its lyrical beauty in her poems is brilliant. Kandasamy employs mythology as an analogy to address contemporary issues. these poems talk about a lot including religion, casteism, decoloniality, religious politics, language, climate, relationships, family, grief, and love. The poems are imbued with righteous indignation and profound love, making them both deeply personal and universally relevant.
Meena Kandasamy's imagery, wit, and subtle philosophy shine through in this collection. Her attempt to integrate elements of Tamil adds a unique layer of authenticity and depth.
4.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for this book in lieu of an honest review.
Meena Kandasamy's imagery, wit, and subtle philosophy shine through in this collection. Her attempt to integrate elements of Tamil adds a unique layer of authenticity and depth.
4.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for this book in lieu of an honest review.
July 22, 2024
"Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You" 📖✨ is a bold blend of the personal and political, addressing issues of desire, family, caste, and freedom of expression with unwavering defiance and grace.
Kandasamy's words are a call to action, urging us to stand up against injustices and practice resistance and solidarity. Her poetry is a rallying cry for change, and this book is a read for anyone passionate about social justice and human rights. 💪❤️
"Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You" is a work that will leave readers inspired. This collection is not just a series of poems; it is a movement, an agitation, and a plea for change. Kandasamy's writing is free from prevarication, making her message all the more powerful.
Kandasamy's words are a call to action, urging us to stand up against injustices and practice resistance and solidarity. Her poetry is a rallying cry for change, and this book is a read for anyone passionate about social justice and human rights. 💪❤️
"Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You" is a work that will leave readers inspired. This collection is not just a series of poems; it is a movement, an agitation, and a plea for change. Kandasamy's writing is free from prevarication, making her message all the more powerful.
March 5, 2023
I love the ideas and sentiments expressed through this collection but didn't always appreciate it as poetry - sometimes the rhythm slips and so rather than verse, it just reads as a
sentence
broken up onto
separate lines.
That said, I like the reach of the collection, from tender, private moments to political resistance. And the way the first is intertwined with the latter - how watching a baby sleep recalls a drowned refugee child washed up, for instance.
Helpful notes on sources and intertexts.
Thanks to Atlantic Books for an ARC via NetGalley
sentence
broken up onto
separate lines.
That said, I like the reach of the collection, from tender, private moments to political resistance. And the way the first is intertwined with the latter - how watching a baby sleep recalls a drowned refugee child washed up, for instance.
Helpful notes on sources and intertexts.
Thanks to Atlantic Books for an ARC via NetGalley
March 26, 2024
Life can only be understood backwards;
But it must be lived forwards.
- Søren Kierkegaard
I started reading this beautiful book filled with poems on the subway while heading to my workplace. And I must say it was wonderful book to read in one setting in a long journey on the boring subway.
My favorite poem was 'A wild woman on a word hunt'. Although I adore the concepts and feelings conveyed in this book, I am not into poetry much then I am into reading stories. Yet I will definitely recommend this book.
But it must be lived forwards.
- Søren Kierkegaard
I started reading this beautiful book filled with poems on the subway while heading to my workplace. And I must say it was wonderful book to read in one setting in a long journey on the boring subway.
My favorite poem was 'A wild woman on a word hunt'. Although I adore the concepts and feelings conveyed in this book, I am not into poetry much then I am into reading stories. Yet I will definitely recommend this book.
April 10, 2024
‘Tomorrow Someone Will Arrest You’ is a testament to Kandasamy's unwavering commitment to her craft and her unapologetic stance on pressing issues. With its blend of linguistic playfulness, historical depth and feminist defiance it is a compelling read that leaves a lasting impression. Kandasamy's voice resonates with clarity and courage, making this anthology a must-read for those seeking poetry that challenges, provokes as well as inspires.
November 30, 2024
This was something different and Meena Kandasamy seems like a very cool and inspirational person. However I wasn't a huge fan of most of these poems. I would've enjoyed it if she used her words more economically. Some of them were so wordy that they were more like incoherent essays. My favourite by far was The Wars Come Home but I also enjoyed A Cat Closing Her Eyes and How To Make A Bitch Give Up Beef.
March 25, 2025
4,5/5
I really enjoyed this book. I picked from my local library entirely because the cover and title was a striking symbol in this slowly crumbling world and I was NOT disappointed. The poetry is unflinching and raw.
The only reason I couldn’t give it 5 stars is because I didn’t find that it grabbed me in that special way some other poets have. The 4 stars is simply a matter of personal taste. I have nothing bad to say about it.
I really enjoyed this book. I picked from my local library entirely because the cover and title was a striking symbol in this slowly crumbling world and I was NOT disappointed. The poetry is unflinching and raw.
The only reason I couldn’t give it 5 stars is because I didn’t find that it grabbed me in that special way some other poets have. The 4 stars is simply a matter of personal taste. I have nothing bad to say about it.
February 22, 2024
It would be a huge disservice to the poems in this book to describe them as powerful or brave. These are poems forged in fiery letters than written. Essential reading for everyone, but especially those who wish to still be woken up from the convenience of silence and apoliticality, as the world around them comes crashing down with incredible facility.
July 11, 2024
I just don't think I'm a poetry person.
It always just feels a little navel gazey and self-serving.
The context for each poem at the back was a really nice addition.
I tried something a bit different, but it just wasn't for me.
It always just feels a little navel gazey and self-serving.
The context for each poem at the back was a really nice addition.
I tried something a bit different, but it just wasn't for me.
February 2, 2024
I love Meena Kandasamy so much.
Nothing I write can do her work justice, but my world always seems richer after reading it.
Nothing I write can do her work justice, but my world always seems richer after reading it.
July 2, 2024
Extraordinarily powerful protest poetry about resistance and solidarity, relationships and resilience, and the safety and rights of women in India and everywhere.
July 7, 2024
This book ignites you with the force of the fire you had been yearning for ages to kindle in your heart. Very impactful lines that give you strong emotional jolts!
July 31, 2024
Liked: poetic activism. Disliked: loved a handful of these but others didn't land.
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