Chikku
by Srila Munukutla
Case Western Reserve University
Srila Munukutla is a student at Case Western Reserve University, originally from Chicago. She is majoring in medical anthropology with minors in creative writing and biology, and will graduate in Spring 2027. She writes poetry and short fiction, and performs spoken word exploring themes of community, memory, and cultural identity rooted in her Indian heritage. Her work has appeared in Lodestar Lit Volume IV and Case Reserve Review.
tangles
tendrils spill over the tub’s edge
thick, black, curling back into itself
slick with water
it glimmers between weathered hands
scrubbing it clean behind her
perched on the stool, strong whiffs of coconut
waft from her marinated scalp
loving palms press slow circles
the oil painting velvety streaks
down the middle part onto the porcelain tiles
worn plastic teeth
bite, chew, swallow the knots—
stubborn strands
whisper protests
sharp against her fingers
tugging harshly
3 strands side by side
one over, three over, two over
one over, three over, two over
one over, three over, two over
they climb over one another
growing longer with each crossing
past the stomach, past the waist, resting heavily at the hips
she ties her ribbon the way she once wore it—
tied tight, then twice more
an impenetrable fortress
warding off flyaways
one day the comb passes
to smaller hands
nervous among
the newly cut strands
too short to braid
but her fingers
patiently work through the chikku
as weathered hands have always done.
Interview with the Poet
1. What inspired you to start writing poetry? Are there any specific poets or writers that inspire you to write?
I’ve been fascinated by poetry for as long as I can remember. I wrote rhyming poems and song lyrics as early as kindergarten, and over time, poetry became a place to hold my memories and make sense of complex emotions. I later discovered spoken word, which made me love poetry differently because it transformed writing into a shared experience beyond the page. Some of the writers and poets who inspire me are Jhumpa Lahiri, Ocean Vuong, Mary Oliver, and Rita Dove. I am also deeply inspired by my family, especially the lineage of women whose stories, sacrifices, and strength continue to shape my work.
2. What is the biggest challenge in your creative process?
One challenge I struggle with is knowing how culturally specific to make a poem without confusing the reader. There’s a delicate balance between including enough context and not overexplaining. I’ve worked on making my poetry accessible to readers from different backgrounds without diluting it. I’ve also become bolder when writing about my culture, religion, and growing up Indian-American in the Midwest, rather than softening my work to be more socially acceptable.
3. Is there a reoccurring or central theme to your work?
I’m often inspired by the small, ordinary interactions and everyday moments that stir an emotional reaction. I tend to write about the people in my life, the memories I can’t seem to forget, and the dreams I don’t dare say aloud. My work typically draws on my cultural identity, community, and feminism.
4. What do you think are important elements in effective, thought-provoking poems?
I think thought-provoking poems are rooted in specificity. A poem becomes more powerful when it gives the reader something concrete to hold onto, like a smell, a texture, or a gesture. Vivid details can tap into larger memories that extend beyond the experience being described.
Strong poems also recognize that clarity does not always require explanation. Especially in poems tied to cultural experience, it can be more effective to pull back and let imagery, metaphor, and form carry the emotional weight. Not every detail has to be resolved; sometimes the space between the lines is just as important. A good poem invites the reader in without forcing them toward one interpretation.
5. What role do you think poetry plays in our society today?
Poetry is an opportunity to express ourselves in a way that commands attention but also asks for patience. It allows us to communicate experiences that might otherwise go unheard and gives permanence to ordinary moments. In a world with so many ways to feel disconnected, poetry reminds us that we are all still undeniably and deeply human. I think the best poetry encourages us to slow down, be present, and sit with what is uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Sometimes, its role is simply to make us listen, to make us feel, and to help us appreciate what we may not fully understand.