Short Takes
When verse gets better Randeep Wadehra
The Circle of Love
by Debashish Chatterjee Rupa. Pages: ix + 126. Price: Rs. 95/-
Undoubtedly,
poetry lends magnificence to philosophical thought; conversely
philosophy provides substance to versification. This holds true in the
case of Chatterjee’s "first book of fiction in free verse".
The clichéd "West comes to East in quest of wisdom" has been
treated rather skillfully by the poet. This is a story of interaction
between the blonde Mariann and the Indian guru Ananda. It covers quite a
few weighty philosophical concepts like time, space, desire etc. While
the illustrations are evocative I am unable to grasp the significance of
repeating certain passages in a scrawl, on opposite pages. This does
not, however, detract from the merit of Chatterjee’s work.
First Fire
by Archana Sahni Yeti, Calicut. Pages: 93. Price: Rs. 100/-.
Here is an anthology that
tackles various moods ranging from pensive to sarcastic and much else. Bill
Clinton Visits the Land of Maya is a sparkling satire, laced with
black humour; The Day without Words portrays rather dark shades
too; To Durga is a plaint wherein the poet seeks long lost love.
Sahni has crafted each expression with telling effect. However, To
Lucifer will need a reading of western mythology and literature; as
you know, Lucifer’s name is attached to Satan who fell from heaven. St
Michael, one of the seven archangels in Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam, was the chief of the angels and Israel’s guardian angel. According to the Book of Enoch, Michael and his faithful troops defeated
the rebellious archangel Lucifer and his followers, casting them into
Hell. Thus, Sahni introduces us to oriental and occidental myths in her
unique style.
As a Fountain in a
Garden
by Kamla K. Kapur Tarang/Hemkunt, N. Delhi. Pages: 62. Price: Rs. 100/-
Immense creative energy
lies latent within all of us. A trigger is needed to unleash it. Agony
has proved to be a rather effective activator. Kapur’s anthology is a
pertinent example of this. When her husband died she channelised her
grief into literary pursuits and has come up with a collection that has
some extremely sensitive renderings. The very first poem Gift,
which speaks to her late spouse, impels empathy. The imagery in her
poems is vivid. She uses minimum words to covey the maximum – a
hallmark of good poetry. Poems like Harvest, Song Bird, Chair etc
leave one in emotional ferment.
U
Here is an anthology that
tackles various moods ranging from pensive to sarcastic and much else. Bill
Clinton Visits the Land of Maya is a sparkling satire, laced with
black humour; The Day without Words portrays rather dark shades
too; To Durga is a plaint wherein the poet seeks long lost love.
Sahni has crafted each expression with telling effect. However, To
Lucifer will need a reading of western mythology and literature; as
you know, Lucifer’s name is attached to Satan who fell from heaven. St
Michael, one of the seven archangels in Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam, was the chief of the angels and Israel’s guardian angel. According to the Book of Enoch, Michael and his faithful troops defeated
the rebellious archangel Lucifer and his followers, casting them into
Hell. Thus, Sahni introduces us to oriental and occidental myths in her
unique style.
Immense creative energy
lies latent within all of us. A trigger is needed to unleash it. Agony
has proved to be a rather effective activator. Kapur’s anthology is a
pertinent example of this. When her husband died she channelised her
grief into literary pursuits and has come up with a collection that has
some extremely sensitive renderings. The very first poem Gift,
which speaks to her late spouse, impels empathy. The imagery in her
poems is vivid. She uses minimum words to covey the maximum – a
hallmark of good poetry. Poems like Harvest, Song Bird, Chair etc
leave one in emotional ferment.
