Friday, December 22, 2017

What poetry hath done unto me

By Namratha Varadharajan


I stumbled into poetry. 

In fact, I stumbled into writing. I ventured into this world of words to gain some hands on knowledge on Digital marketing. Instead, I fell in love with writing. Somewhere along the way, I just found it in tune with myself to write in verse. And every time I rhymed, wrote a poem, I loved it just a little more. Today, I would like to share with you a few ‘snippets’ about ‘poetry and me’ from a newbie poet-in-the-making

A new lens



changing colours

A tree
sprouts a green leaf
draws first spring breath
is shined to glow
by incessant monsoon
dons an autumnal rust
for a dance in the wind
yellowed falls down
withering under the cold
brown buried in the ground
manure for tree.

I was blind. Before. I saw everything but did not really see anything. Maybe, I just saw it in a different way. How beautiful the world looks through a poet’s eyes! How much more is there to see! I notice the swirls in the rose, seemingly arranged hapazardly but then, it is perfection. I observe how each season is ushered in by a change in the wind and all the living creatures of the world move in tune with these changes. All, except one. Us, who seem to be moving in stark contrast to the rest of the world: occupying more than is ours, polluting, destroying without regret or even being conscious about it.

A record.




Hold on
the rise and fall of your breathe
in the soft glow of the night
makes me hold mine

Tight—
cause if I exhale
the moment will be broken
and the world will move on.

Poetry has helped me take stock of the world. Be more mindful. Along the way, I discovered the haiku, which usually is a record of an ‘instant’ or one  ‘occurrence’ in nature. But, for me, it helped me experience moments in their entirety. To quote an example: a moment with my new born son, stood still, filling up my soul. But, that put into words, in a poem, made it a memory I can revisit, as and when I pleased.

effect change:




your palm on my lips
your palm on my lips
I don’t need it

I choose to be silent
only if I will.

At the core of my being, I believe poetry should be used to make an impact change. One cause close to my heart is equalism: to create a world where every woman, man, child, of all races, castes, sects, colours, sexual orientation have the same rights and freedoms. I would love to write impactful poetry to effect the changes that this world urgently needs, or rather needed yesterday.

writing Poetry but for whom?




Painting visions in the air
words drop down on me
hard—
in a torrential downpour of ideas
that won’t stay bottled in
will seep through the cork
splash onto the paper
painting visions
even when there are no eyes to see.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t want readers. I do. Every writer does. Is it marketable? I don’t know yet. I am too new in the field. A noticable trend in poetic circles is that there are a select few who write, read and appreciate poetry. It is disheartening to say the least. Fiction or non-fiction have their set of takers. However, poetry is at best viewed as something beyond the common ‘man’, and mostly its existence is just ignored or forgotten. But, by a few. Correct me if I am wrong.

In fact, the last time I had rubbed shoulders with poetry was all the way back in school. Until I stumbled into its loving arms. Here is a wish for the world, that more people start reading and inculcating poetry into their lives. For it touches you, enriches you from within in ways no other type of literature can.




Namratha Varadharajan is blogger-in-chief at namysaysso.com. She co-hosts two blog-hops #WordSante and #MicroMondays. She is yet to define herself under any one type of literature or genre. She currently dabbles in poetry, flash fiction, and day-to-day musings and enjoys them all. 
Connect with her on TwitterFacebook





12 comments:

Namratha said...

Thanks for hosting me Alice

Shirley Corder said...

Lovely pictures linked with skillful poetry. Well done!Excited for 2018-A Year of Thankfulness

SlimExpectations said...

Beautiful lines and definitely linking up with you once the blog hops done! Talented you are Nam!

Anagha Yatin said...

Namratha you have the way with words for sure. The words seem to flow spontaneously, as in the cascade narrating the emotions felt by the heart.
I loved, "effect change". Its so empowering! Keep penning them, let it flow and drench us in the wonderful thoughts.

Namratha said...

Thank you Shirley��

Rupa hariharan said...

Lovely post with wonderful lines.

Keerthi Vydyula said...

Beautiful Namy! My fav were these line....
Painting visions in the air
words drop down on me
hard—
in a torrential downpour of ideas
that won’t stay bottled in
will seep through the cork
splash onto the paper
painting visions
even when there are no eyes to see.

As I told you earlier, your poets connect to everyone!

Namratha said...

Thanks Keerthi. Glad you enjoyed it

Namratha said...

Thanks Rupa

Namratha said...

Please do so😊 and thank you. Such words are definitely encouraging

Namratha said...

Thanks Anagha for reading. I am glad you liked it

Cerebrations.biz said...

Nie to meet you, Namy!
Enjoyed your couplets.