Blessed magic happens when one renowned poet reviews the work of another poet whose voice and words are intriguing pathways to self-knowledge, understanding and reflection.
In this the
season of rebirth, renewal, and celebration, it is more than appropriate to share
creative work that can enhance our spirit and broaden our understanding of the
dynamics of life.
Alleys are Filled with Future
Alphabets by Gopal
Lahiri
·
ISBN: 97881945865
·
Publishers: Rubric
Publishing, Noida, UP, India
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Length: 137
·
Price: Rs275/ $25
Bilingual
Bengali and English poet and writer, Gopal Lahiri’s latest book, Alleys are
Filled with Future Alphabets is a striking collection of 102 poems divided
in to seven sections. Each section is carefully crafted with poems that seem to
be walking towards the reader, urging one to engage with myriad possibilities,
filling the alleys with one’s own present and future alphabets, or holding the
hand of the author as he engages and negotiates through various spoken and
unspoken alleys.
Approaching this review differently, I am sharing below some of the poems and lines therein for the readers to savor the “alleys” in Lahiri’s poignant, sharp, at times delicate, at times vociferous words. I present my interpretation of the lines.
Departure: (5)
“The
air plucks the unspent words of the universe/Evoke in me/ They ring the deepest
bell of the truth…”
The
universality of this emotion is much appreciated. Humans are funny creatures.
They are mostly seeking change, competition, rest, sleep, love, and family,
confirming Abraham Maslow’s triangle of hierarchical needs. Reminds me also of
Hamlet’s words in Shakespeare’s play, “To be, or not to be, that is the question"
What is real? What is imagination? What are dreams? What endures in the
recesses of our inner makings? Who will determine absolute truth if there is
one? As a trained historian, I know there is none. However, we keep seeking in
circles of living and dying. And Lahiri’s words ring that clear.
Summer
of Discontent (7)
“My
own moon landing/in dream goes horribly wrong/my inside burns for reasons that
are unclear.”
Again,
the juxtaposition of reality with the dreamworld comes through in this poem. It’s
almost like the poet is at struggle with these two worlds like most humans
thereby universalizing his poems.
Raindrops
(9)
“All
night rain the rain weaves love and light”
Water
has a cleansing effect and is critical for survival, and rain is an epitome of
that cleansing and survival. Rain is needed to grow crops and for drinking.
Lahiri weaves these elements in his poem in a remarkable way especially towards
the end of the poem in the line quoted above. Love can be light, or love can
take away light. The reader is the best judge.
Forever
(15)
“I
open my iron chest/Seeking the shapes, not sure of what/I leave some left-over
handshakes.”
Loved
the words, “left-over handshakes”! For isn’t that what life can be… left over
handshakes… where folks clasp…lightly or strongly, but cannot let go, or can do
so very quickly, putting in place the possibilities of future handshakes or
memories of those gone past.
Discourse
(37)
“The
moment of truth comes well after the dawn/without anybody’s knowledge”
Again,
hitting the nail on the head so to say, Lahiri hones on a simple yet oft not
accepted universal veracity in the above lines.
New
Soliloquies (43)
“Black
lives matter now-repeating bold stories/the message spreading across the
sea/call out new names, new soliloquies”
Stressing
upon racism, Lahiri is clearly a poet that speaks to universal issues.
Fireflies
(54)
“Fallen
on pupil-less eyes in circle of fire/no tears left to cry/little hearts groan
and sigh in silence.”
Fireflies
provide us much joy and interest, almost magical in a dark night. Many of us
tend to sigh at their beauty and temporary quality, just as that of loving,
living and surviving.
Mother
Earth (85)
“There
is drama all around/and you want to curve something/to save our planet.”
This
poem, like many others in this special book, left a deep impact on me as we
humans are the ones creating drama on the only planet we know as home and this
poem alludes as such.
The
above several quoted lines are only a small representation of the macrocosm of
emotions spread by Lahiri on the pages of his heartfelt, at times very personal
poetry. And that personal voice of the
poet comes through in lines that stress anguish, pain, and an urging for
deliberation and possible change. Lahiri
employs several literary techniques in his poetry, such as, similes, metaphors,
hyperbole, and symbolism.
A
remarkable feature of Lahiri’s poetry is the connections he draws with visuals
and feelings that are just around the corner, or from our childhood, or from
some previous memory, or from daydreams about the future. Nostalgia is very
apparent in Lahiri’s poetry. While he addresses universal issues of life and
living, there is an element of an Indianness or India very clearly peeking
through windows and doors in his poems. For example, paper boats in monsoon
rains, beetle leaves, and tiny birds (sparrows). The reader is left with many
aha moments, sighing here and there, smiling, and nodding one’s head in
agreement. A collection that is a must read!
Reviewer:
Anita Nahal is an Indian American poet, flash fictionist, children’s writer, and professor. She has three books of poetry, one of flash fictions, four for children and four edited anthologies to her credit. She teaches at the University of Columbia, Washington DC. More on her at:
https://anitanahal.wixsite.com/anitanahal
aaduna - an online adventure with words and images - a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010.
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