baggage claim by Surashree Joshi

“Grounded in existential thought and exploration, Surashree Joshi’s work surprises by incorporating references to the mundane within many of her life-altering insights. Though one’s first instinct might be to chuckle, it is but a beat before the reader stills into silence to consider the ways in which human nature undermines a philosophical and/or spiritual understanding of the cosmos, perhaps even God. In baring her illusions before the world, Joshi inspires the reader to reflect on her own, resulting in a shifting of course or a simple shake of the head in the face of humankind’s temporality. If there were only one collection I could choose to read this year, baggage claim would be it.”

— Kelly Moyer, Editor of Failed Haiku

About the Author:

Surashree Joshi has been an English teacher for nearly a decade. She started writing haiku during the lockdown and has been in love with the form ever since. Her chapbook Mithaक was published by Yavanika Press in 2023. She is also a trained Hindustani Classical Vocalist. She loves her nephews, coffee, and everything fantasy. At the end of the day, she is a confused millennial who is looking for magic everywhere and trying to find out who she really is.