In our short stay here on earth, we gather various experiences (both bitter and sweet); some build us up and some break us down. We face difficulties, temptations, betrayals and deceit all of which are directed to crumple us, weaken us and suck the life out of us. The choice remains up to us to either wither or continue to bloom. “She blooms anyway”– the title chosen for this book tries to give to its readers the message that no matter what life throws at us, we can choose to bloom anyway.
This collection of poems is a personal narration and explores a variety of topics which starts with the personal experience of the poet and chooses to cover a wider audience who may find a resonance and point of commonality in these poems. Each feeling, each emotion poured in the pages has been felt and lived.
This collection of poems has been divided into three sections-Grace and Mercy, Unfiltered and Borrowed from the memories. The first section- Grace and Mercy talks about the poet’s personal experience of having been saved and restored, built and renewed, forgiven and accepted by a higher being(Christ) on whom the poet has placed her faith and on whom she has found abundant grace, unending mercy and everlasting love.
The second section-Unfiltered as the title suggests is a presentation of unfiltered thoughts and uncensored emotions. The first poem “Yellow cabs” gives us a picture of Kolkata who according to the poet is synonymous to the yellow cabs- a familiar sight in Kolkata. It also contains a tint of nostalgia and guilt as the poet now sitting in a comfortable AC cab looks out of the window and watches how the Uber and Ola cabs-the more preferred and demanded cabs now confidently move around the city promising its people comfort and convenience. They seem to have outshined the once familiar yellow cabs. The poet herself guilty of having chosen comfortability over familiarity witnesses the AC cabs ruthlessly snatching away the pride and beauty, robbing the authenticity and erasing the existence of the once loved yellow cabs. The other poems in this sections explores a range of topics- love and its intricacies, betrayal, hope, society, death, distance and spaces in relationships and about the falling, failing life of humans. It also talks about the burdensome expectations and responsibilities thrust on one of the world’s strongest species-women. It explores the poet’s own dilemma and struggle with creating an identity of her own in a world that continuously misunderstands and misinterprets her every action and word. There is one poem that talks about domestic violence-a burning issue in the present times. It gives a picture of a family where the wife becomes a victim of this social evil- though she silently endures her husband’s advances, doesn’t correct the misunderstood notion of her children- her silence is her actual weapon. This section also contains a few poems that have been penned down taking in mind the much dreaded enemy that the whole world has been fighting against today-Corona. It expresses how perhaps amidst this pandemic if not medicines perhaps love will save us.
There is a special poem named “Ti-sa-tha” that talks about the love story of the two rivers-Teesta and Rangeet. It is based on a Lepcha folklore. It has been beautifully written and brings to life the story of the two rivers as if they are living, breathing human beings in love.
The third section “Borrowed from the memories” contains three poems two of which are a flashback of the past memories- it is a personal poem that gives us a picture of the love that was shared between the poet and her grandparents. The first poem narrates the love story of the poet’s grandfather and grandmother. The second poem gives us a picture of the love and warmth found in the company of grandparents. The teasing between grandpa and grandma- perhaps their gesture or way of professing love projects the simplicity and innocency of their love. The last poem is a picture of life that the poet is living and leading at the present as a Literature Professor in her college. It gives a small description of her daily life with her students with whom she shares her world, her knowledge and a common love for literature and in return from whom she learns more about life and literature.
You may find yourself somewhere between the lines and words, the sentences and stanzas of the various poems that have been written and compiled in this book.
Enjoy reading!
