When a spaceship with artificial consciousness stranded 4.93 trillion miles from Earth spots signs of life approaching steadily, their intentions might not be what it expected.
Lost & Found – Part I (Flash Fiction #3) Read More »
When 10-year-old Nancy discovers a diary in her parents’ attic, she sets out to find answers that might bring peace to their constant fights… Nancy can walk the length of the attic in eight-and-a-half steps. That would include carefully dodging the old storage boxes or the jutting-out chair legs and keeping her neck bent as she reached the edges where the roof had slanted. To add to the difficulty of her walk, only one yellow bulb lit up the space, casting disfigured shadows on the walls and the ceiling while leaving the edges and corners in a creamy darkness. Nancy had discovered this attic when she was seven. That was three years ago when she could still jump in here without the fear of cracking her head. It was a moment of silent elation as she had just unveiled a new world inside her home, but the shadows would still scare her and she would occasionally bump into stuff and scrape her knees and elbows. Explaining that to her parents used to be even scarier. Itâs different now. For one, she can walk blindfolded in this claustrophobic space without fear. Two, her parents donât bother questioning her over a few cuts and bruises. They are barely home these days, and when they are, they are busy arguing and yelling at each other. And when Nancyâs room gets too loud for her liking, she climbs into this quieter world instead. Today as she steps inside and turns on the dim yellow light, itâs a sunny summer day outside. The day she was supposed to go to Yellowstone on a road trip with Ma and Dad, which was canceled only a night ago. As she closes the door behind her, the noise from downstairs fades away, and she slips into her world quietly. She crouches over to an archaic wooden cupboard and opens the door to get what she came for. An old diary. Brown cover, aged and worn, with intricate flower and star inscriptions in golden color. The sort sheâd seen in movies that contain clues to hidden treasures. Only this diary belonged to Ma and no sea explorer. Yet, the heavily creased and dense pages feel coarse against her fingers. And heavy. As she flips open the cover, she sees the two curious sentences again. Written using two different pens and most likely by two different persons. âPersonal Diary!!â âOpen only if you know the code.â The second sentence makes Nancy giggle every time because the drawstring that was supposed to tie the pages together is now gone. Only its trace remains on the cover. And there is no other secret mechanism built into this traditional diary to prevent unwanted readers from prying into it. So she goes on. The first entry was from 1987, when, if her maths is correct, Ma would be only one year older than she is now. Nancy often wonders what Ma looked like then. Did she have long hair? Did she tie them into braids? Nancy will never be able to fill the void in her imagination with an exact figure, but she goes on. After that first entry, which was only about Maâs sheer joy at owning this diary, the entries never became daily or even monthly. Sometimes, there would be consecutive entries on the same page as if Ma was worried about running out of paper. Then there would be months of no new entries, but whenever something major, whether good or bad, happened, sheâd come back to write about it. Like when she won the interschool chess championship in eighth grade or when she burned her favorite lab coat in high school. She had an entry for her prom night, for the day she got accepted into CalArts, and for all of her first dates that never went well. Nancy would skip some entries because it felt wrong at times but there was also an excitement in knowing things she would never be allowed to. Sometimes, she just wondered about those young boys who didnât make it beyond those first dates. Are they all married? Do they fight like Ma and Dad too? These fights worry Nancy more now. Josh, a red-haired freckled boy in her maths class, says that if parents start fighting over small things too often, it means they donât like each other. And they want to leave. This thought makes Nancy shudder. Leave? Where? What about me? Often, she has no clue what they are fighting over, only that they do it every day now, and it makes her sad. She doesnât disbelieve Josh either. His parents had separated last year, and thatâs how he says he knows. She also wonders how people who love each other can fight so much. She remembers Maâs entry when she first met Dad in college. âTall, a tad too muscular, kinda stupid, but when he looked over at me and smiled during lunch, it felt like someone finally saw me.â In the pages of that brown diary, Nancy saw her mother grow up. Leave home for college, move to a different city for her first job, and to a new city for the second. She cried at the entry when Ma wrote, âWhere are my roots if notâŠâ and never finished that sentence. Is this what growing up looks like? Losing your roots and leaving sentences unfinished? Josh also says he has grown up a lot this year. Not only has he gained two inches but he is also strong enough to carry groceries on his own. He also says that if parents are fighting, you can try to interrupt them by crying or yelling about the first thing that comes to mind. Nancy has tried that a few times, and last week she got yelled at and sent back to her room instead. Carrying groceries or doing homework on your own is easier than convincing parents, Nancy has decided will be her first entry when she buys a
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September 17, 2023. Itâs past 9 pm, and as I walk away from the lights, dreams, visions, and the passionate crowd of TIFF â23 for the last time, my soul is satiated like never before in my one year in Toronto. On a quaint spring evening in May, a friend told me over dinner that TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) was accepting volunteer applications. A skeptic at first, I had casually filed my resume and answered the application questionnaire honestly but without much introspection. Fast-forward to a pleasant Friday evening in July, and the acceptance email from TIFF 2023 popped into my inbox. That was the start of something truly beautiful. The World of TIFF 2023 and How I Reinvented Myself in 10 Days As the festival days came closer, though, the news of the WGA strike, followed by the SAG-AFTRA strike, loomed like a dark cloud above TIFF â23. Unabashedly, Iâll admit that my idea of world cinema so far was rigidly one-dimensional (read: Hollywood-centered), and I wondered if the volunteering role would even be worth it. My friends from home would hype me up, and ask me to take selfies and autographs of famous Hollywood stars, but I knew that wouldnât be the case. Personally, I regretted not volunteering last year, simply because The Whale cast had attended it (and I a die-hard fan of one of the casts). But the first time I walked down King Street with the Coming Soon banners around me, I felt magic brewing in the air, calling out to me and lulling me in. And boy, oh boy, on the first day of the festival, I was anything but disappointed. A Snippet into Life as a TIFF Volunteer Everything about volunteering at TIFF is crisp and simple. Right during the orientation, youâll receive a volunteer manual (also available on their volunteer portal) that lists everything from available roles to dress code to how to reserve/cancel shifts. TIFF members also do a wonderful job of warmly welcoming everyone Something to note here is that TIFF has a number of venues (scattered at walking distance from each other), and you can actually choose your preferred venues. But whether your preference will be approved or not depends on TIFF. Regardless of this, the next steps will involve collecting your volunteer t-shirt and ID card (they have optional language badges), and some optional venue-specific training. The shifts in themselves are quite simple but rewarding if you love interacting with people. I didnât but surprisingly I enjoyed doing that because the crowd was mostly cinema lovers and I felt more comfortable than I had imagined. Reviews of My Watchlist at TIFF 2023 As an international student juggling college, assignments, and work, dedicating a lot of time to movies is but a beautiful dream. Even though we, as volunteers, had unlimited free access to public screenings of movies (through ârushâ lines and ticket vouchers), I wasnât sure if I could fit any movie into my schedule. I wasnât even sure which ones to prioritize, given that they were all uncharted territories for me. Barely any familiar actor, director, or studio to influence my choices. Yet, I somehow ended up watching 5 full-length features and a bunch of short films and regretting none of âem. Hereâs a quick review of these movies in the order in which I watched them: 1. ShortCuts 5 This yearâs TIFF had 6 different ShortCuts, each with a unique movie line-up and I have never seen one open to a single empty seat in the theaters. Hoorah short filmmakers! I. WOACA: Mackenzie Davis | United Kingdom One problem with ‘rush’ing a screening is that you might miss out on the first few minutes, but I donât think I missed much here (credits to the intro promos). The IMDB link of this short describes the storyline as: She puts the lotion on the face (repeated 8x). And thatâs all the movie is about – a comic take on the horror of trying to âlook perfectâ. P.S. I still donât know what the title means, and the movie failed to make cackle or gasp but the audience seemed to love it. My Rating: 2.5/5* II. A Bird Called Memory by Leonardo Martinelli This 14-minute short is about a trans woman searching for her pet bird, Memory, who has lost its way home in a city that doesnât exactly feel like home. But as you watch the movie, the unexpected friendships, and the impromptu dances, this movie feels so much more. My Rating: 3/5*. III. Sawo Matang by Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto This film is set against the backdrop of the cultural divides between native Indonesians and Chinese immigrants and deals with black magic. The story and casting were good, but perhaps because of my ignorance of Indonesian culture (specifically the black magic context), the film did not sit very well with me. My Rating: 2.5/5*. IV. Aphasia by Marielle DalpĂ© A very short film, even for short films, this animated endeavor breaks down the slowly falling apart world of Alzheimer’s patients. The animation style and the dialogues were pretty jarring, and they served their purpose. My rating: 3/5*. This ShortCuts screening had a total of 7 films, and just one post is too short to talk about all of them. Leave out the rest for part II, shall we? 2. The King Tide I was referred to this movie by a wonderful person, Devon, whom I met at the CMPA Awards at TIFF 2023. Devon was a key member of this filmâs production team. Thanks to his input, I can finally say that this Canadian production, shot entirely in the stunning landscapes of Newfoundland, is my FAVORITE on the list. The movie begins with a pretty unique premise: On the night a mother loses her child during birth, a newborn baby washes up the shore in a row boat. Ten years later, the baby has grown into a lovely girl named Isla (Alicia West Lefler) whose
Less GlamSham but Cinema Wins at TIFF ’23: My Experience as a Volunteer (Part I) Read More »
Yes, Iâm saying this straightaway – the title was clickbait (or is it?) Once you have read a few poems (or a few hundred), something changes in you. A sense of fulfillment grows, levels of introspection evolve, and the horizons of imagination and empathy widen. Yes, you might contemplate once in a while how to put a rank against these poems and what could have been the greatest or the top ten best poems of all time. As time passes and you read even more poems, that thought subsides behind the idea that each poem offers something unique (and often, personal). So, to compare would be to confine or stereotype them. How do you compare flowers or the colors in a rainbow? Moreover, your favorite poetry books to read will very likely not be the same as mine. After all, poetry is not science. Poetry is subjective. Poetry is emotion-evoking, and obviously, there is no way to rate emotions. Nor should there be. Why You Need to Read the Best Poems of All Time in 2023 So, this article is not about what I feel are the best-written works of poetry in the history of mankind or what I think you should regard as the best either. Instead, this is my list of poems from different ages of literature that have withstood the test of time and still have something relevant and valuable to say. Today, we stand at the crossroads of unprecedented technological advancements and enduring socio-political challenges. Understanding our emotions and feeling love, hope, and mutual connection is key to our survival. The best poems of all time, spanning different eras and backgrounds, offer us a unique vantage point to reflect on our progress, setbacks, and the intricacies of the human condition in this rapidly evolving landscape. Top 7 Among My List of Best Poems of All Time Are you ready to traverse the realms of emotions, thoughts, and imagination? Let’s begin our journey with these seven must-read poems that have captivated hearts across generations. 1. âMending Wallsâ by Robert Frost A month after Chris Nolanâs magnum opus âOppenheimerâ took us back to the horrors of wars, and at an era marked by geopolitical crises (Afghanistan, Ukraine) and religious and ideological clashes, this poem offers a breath of fresh air. In the said poem, a stone wall (symbolizing archaic beliefs and practices) separates the speakerâs property from his neighborâs. The speaker is more rational and skeptical of the necessity of a wall where there are no cows (there are multiple hints that nature does not give reasons to build walls) and the diversity of each individual is unlikely to be corrupted by the absence of a wall. However, the neighbor is a savage from the Stone Age and keeps uttering like a robot, âGood walls make good neighbors.â Never questioning, never introspecting. The poem is a contemporary must-read to discuss the issues of nationalism, international borders, and immigration. 2. âYouâreâ by Sylvia Plath Quite a detour in Sylvia Plathâs art form, this poem is a celebration of new life and all the emotions that a mother passes through during pregnancy. Even more surprising is that it was written during a time when Ted Hughes had left Sylvia Plath, and she had to bear with the pregnancy all on her own. Yet, this poem seldom has any complaint. The 18-line Sylvia Plath poem, divided into two stanzas of nine lines (signifying the nine months of pregnancy), compares the fetus or the unborn baby to a variety of metaphors. Some can be considered cute and pleasant, some are weird, and some levitate the stature of the baby to the Moon or a god. If youâre a fan of Sylvia Plath poems, this is a curious and even amusing read. 3. âAt the Last Watchâ by Rabindranath Tagore This one is, without a doubt, the least talked about poem on the list. Even I came across this poem on the internet out of sheer luck. The first three lines, âPity, in place of love, / That pettiest of gifts, / Is but a sugarâcoating over neglect,â immediately drew me in with their simplicity yet depth of meaning. How often, in love, we plunge so deep that even a touch of pity seems worth it? The poem goes on to narrate the excruciating moments leading up to the final goodbye and the endless despair that lies beyond. How the protagonist of the poem clings on to hope beyond this despair makes the poem a terrific and eternal read. The line, âI realised, what was to go went away in a moment, / What was to stay behind stayed on / For all time,â haunts me even today with this harsh truth about life. 4. âTell all the truth but tell it slantâ by Emily Dickinson Emily Dickinson is one of my favorite poets, and I cannot create a list of the best poems of all time without any from hers. But instead of some of her insanely famous works, Iâll choose this short and impactful poem. In this 8-line poem, Dickinson accepts the power of truth and the need to disclose it but argues against bluntly throwing it at someoneâs face. For me, the poem is more about empathy than anything else. Dickinson does advocate for lies but believes being empathetic while serving the truth can prevent the world from going blind. In these trying times, which theme can be more compelling than empathy? 5. âAloneâ by Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe, a master of the macabre, presents us with “Alone,” a haunting introspection into the depths of his psyche. The first time I touched these lines, it felt like someone has reached out to my soul – a gentle caressing that said to me, you are not alone Poe’s words paint a vivid picture of a soul adrift in a sea of isolation, capturing the essence of human solitude. Critical analysis of this poem unveils Poe’s personal struggles, as
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In a world where emotions are bought and sold, a young girl stumbles upon a hidden underground where genuine feelings still exist. What happens next? Anomaly 3193 crouched under the fire exit of a dilapidated building, tucking in the bruised skin of her legs within her skirt. Splatters of cold December rain on the dinghy alley hit her face and bare arms, pricking her skin like the words of Mama, Anaz, and Stephanie. Anomaly 3193 was eleven years old, and they were the only people she knew, or rather, who knew of her. Until the message came⊠Now, she had left them behind. Forever. This made her feel SAD – a reminder of what she was – an anomaly. The thunderstorm slowed into a drizzle almost an hour later. Anomaly 3193 came out in the open and looked deep down the two roads ahead of her. On her left, the alley narrowed, the shadows deepened, and the stench seemed to find its source, To her right, the alley led to one of the supersonic highways, crammed with high-speed cars, neon lights, and glass-door shops. One final look at the distant lights that trickled into the dinghy alley, and Anomaly 3193 chose to enter the shadows. Anomaly 3193 walked in the drizzle for another two hours before the moon fought its way through the clouds, making the walk easier. She had always been prone to tripping. She was seven years old when she tripped, tumbled down the stairs, and broke a bone in her left leg. Mama couldnât take her to the hospital fearing the doctor or the nurses would find out her truth. In a world where every child at birth is injected with a serum to neutralize the part of the brain that generates emotions so that the trade of these emotions could proliferate, she was an anomaly. One, whose brain had survived the serum. Anomaly 3193, her big brother, had named her after Anomaly 3192 was discovered by the Kingsmen and âbrought to justiceâ. Before the break of dawn, Anomaly 3193 had crossed the city limits and entered a disbanded railway station. For the morning, a rail car with moss and fungi growing out of it would be her shelter. *** Anomaly 3193 stood before the gate that was camouflaged between two jagged rock faces. She laid down a knock as hard as her failing body would allow her. If not for the detailed map that she found inside a teddy bear left in her backyard, she would have never found this door. When her knocks turned to loud bangs and the door stayed shut, she felt DESPERATION creep in. The map had come with a letter that promised her an underground world where Anomaly 3193 could finally be Celia Goldhart. With hopes draining out from her eyes and the ground slipping from underneath, Celia heard the hinges move. âWe were waiting for you,â a woman spoke and a thick shawl wrapped itself around her. Celia succumbed to the warmth of the shawl. Hours later, Celia woke up and a woman named Nanaeve left her warm food and drink. When Celia could walk again, Nanaeve held her arm as she walked down shadowy underground hallways and chambers of the utopian world of uncaged emotions. Men, women, and children of all ages, shapes, and colors greeted her with radiant smiles. Some had tears of JOY on seeing another living soul like theirs. Celia cried too. The secret world felt too good to be true. Once Celia could think more clearly, she turned to Nanaeve and asked, âCan we ever get outside? Into our real world and show them what it means to feel happiness, anger, sadness, guilt, glee, and hope – all together and without having to pay for it?â Nanaeve lost the color of her face and her gaze bore into the damp concrete floor. âNo, Celia. That world above us doesnât deserve you, me, or anyone like us,â a young male voice reverberated in the hallway behind them. A voice familiar to every ear in this world. Celia swiveled around. A boy, barely in his teenage, walked up to her. The KING. âIt was my great-grandfather who built the Emotion serum and changed the world. Today, I carry out his will in the day and my own will in the shroud of the night. But I wouldnât change a thing.â Young Celia held herself together on the verge of breaking down. âWhy? Why wouldnât you fix the world? WHY?â âBecause in these dungeons, we are not anomalies. We are Gods. We are the Source. We are priceless.â Poetry cannot ward off storms, but it can hold your hand and be your guiding light as you sail through one storm at a time. From a survivor of childhood trauma and life-shattering heartbreaks comes an anthology of poetry and prose that is all about helping you find the light in the dark. A blend of free verse, sonnets, and narrative poetry with interwoven personal essays to suit your every mood and make you feel whole again.
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âBloody smear of inkOne drop, every day, new pageâLove aches. Life goes on. The greatest art is born from a heart that has felt the greatest depths of love and pain, or at least, it is commonly believed so. While I will not attempt to judge the truth behind this statement, poems about love and pain have existed in the earliest examples of human literature as well as in the poetry books coming out on Amazon in the 21st CE. It’s fascinating how these two emotions have been intricately woven into the fabric of poetry, transcending time and cultural boundaries. In this article, we’ll take a journey through history to explore the evolution of love and pain in poetry, from ancient times to the modern era. So, grab a cup of tea, sit back, and let’s dive into the world of heartfelt verses. Poems About Love and Pain: A Journey Through Time Love might be the most complicated human emotion to feel, let alone express. And when it flows into the river of pain as if fulfilling its destiny, some of the greatest poetry of our history was born. From the ancient echoes of Sappho’s melodic verses to Arabic poems about love to the modern refrains of contemporary poets, the theme of love and pain has woven its intricate threads throughout the ages. It is a symphony of human emotions, exploring the depths of our souls and revealing the fragile beauty that resides within us. Here are some of the greatest poetry book quotes and collections that deal with the theme of love, loss, and the journey beyond. 1. Ancient Verses: Poetry Book Collections of Love and Pain Did you know one of the most common themes of Mesopotamian-era poetry was love and longing? Somewhere around 3,000 BCE, writing came to was discovered by the Mesopotamians and soon, there was a flourish of poetry offered to God and lovers. Take the instance of Sappho (some 2,500 years later). She was an ancient Greek poetess who composed mesmerizing verses about longing and heartbreak. Her words painted vivid imagery of unrequited love and the ache of separation. Metaphors and vivid descriptions were her tools to convey the intensity of these emotions. It’s incredible how even centuries ago, poets understood the power of words to capture the nuances of love and pain that are so relevant even today. 2. Classical Poetry: Sonnets and the Elegance of Love and Pain The classical ear of poetry was marked by lyrics and poems about love and pain, and although less renowned than some of his compatriots, John Donne was truly the torchbearer or âthe first poet in the world in some thingsâ as described by Ben Johnson. It is, in fact, startling to believe that a poet rose from being hailed among a restricted circle of admirers to influencing many English poets decades after his death to falling into the pits of oblivion and then rising back to popularity almost three centuries later. Some of John Donneâs classics include âThe Good Morrow,â âThe Perfume,â and âA Valediction: Forbidden Mourningâ. Perhaps the dip in popularity of John Donne in the late 16th and 17th CE can be accredited to one of the biggest names in English poetry, William Shakespeare. Contemporary to him was another poet, Christopher Marlowe, who earned more modest acclaim. Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” is a delightful poem that transports us to a rural paradise, where the shepherd passionately implores his love to join him in a simple life amidst nature’s beauty. With each line, Marlowe weaves a sentimental touch, promising pleasures found only in the arms of love. In the splendid era of the Renaissance, the unmatched genius of Shakespeare graces the stage with his typical fourteen-line sonnets written in iambic pentameter. Delving into the ecstasy and torment of love as well as depicting the yearning and suffering experienced by the lover, their timeless works continue to resonate with us today. 3. Romantic Poetry: Embracing Passion and Despair Ah, the Romantic era! This period witnessed a surge of passion and intense emotions in poetry. Poets like Lord Byron and John Keats sought to capture the depth of love and pain in their verses. Romantic poets celebrated individualism and the expression of personal emotions. Byron’s works often explored the tumultuous nature of love, while Keats enchanted readers with his sensual and melancholic portrayal of longing and loss. Romantic poetry opened the floodgates for raw and unfiltered expressions of the heart. A personal favorite of Keats is La Belle Dams Sans Merci which literally translates to The Lady Without Mercy. It is worth mentioning that Keatâs love poems were mostly inspired by his tryst with Fanny Browne, a failed ordeal of love and pain. 4. Modern Poetry Book Collections: A Candid Glimpse into Love’s Turmoil Fast forward to the modern era, and we witness a fascinating evolution in poems about love and pain. With the emergence of more conversational poetry, these poets not only drew inspiration from their love and pain but also explored the journey beyond. A profound shift from being poems about love and pain to being about healing and self-love. These poets fearlessly explored their own heartbreaks, relationships, and vulnerabilities, inviting readers into their emotional worlds. They shattered the boundaries of societal conventions, giving voice to their pain and love in an authentic and cathartic way. Today’s contemporary poets continue to explore this theme, bringing fresh perspectives and shedding light on the complexities of human emotions. One of the contemporary poets whose works have empowered me over the years is Maya Angelou, and perhaps, Iâd share a more personal interpretation of her poetry in a later post. 5. Love and Pain Across Cultures and Borders Arabic poems about love and loss, known as “ghazals” or “qasidas,” have left an indelible mark on the world of poetry. One of the most celebrated poets in this genre is Ibn Zaydun, who lived during the 11th century in Al-Andalus. His passionate love
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Poetry began as one of the earliest forms of human literature, thousands of years before any proper doctrine of communication was set up. In fact, the power of poetry is credited by historians to be instrumental in consolidating ancient empires dating back to Babylon and Mesopotamia. In more recent history, social media writers warped the concepts of poetry to create something much more easily transmittable and digestible, climbing up to the bestseller ranks on Amazon during the process. Between Mesopotamia and #Instapoetry, the tectonic plates of literature and human cognition have shifted; and yet, the power of poetry is undeniable. Power of Poetry Decoded for Beginner Poets in 2023 Built a knife of words –Carved past, present, and future;They still chose murder. What you choose to do with the power of poetry is a choice only for you to make, but be aware of the consequences while you do. Ah, poetryâthe elixir of emotions! In a world filled with noise and distractions, poetry has this magical ability to captivate our hearts and transport us to a universe where emotions reign supreme. With its rhythmic cadence and evocative language, poetry can transport us to realms of joy, sorrow, and everything in between. It’s like a rollercoaster ride for the heart, taking us on thrilling emotional journeys. Poetry, although mere words on pages, have contributed significantly to freedom movements and the world order we seem to enjoy today. Be it the American Revolution, the Civil War, or the Indian fight for independence. In fact, the introduction to poetry for many of us is through such powerful works. Throughout history, women have used poetry as a powerful tool to express their strength, resilience, and sassiness. From Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” to Emily Dickinson’s “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”, strong women poets have paved the way for empowerment and inspired generations. Even beyond guns and roses and empowering strong woman poems, poetry has the power to transform human souls. That, in my grand opinion, is the true purpose of poetry. So, whether you are a novice poet or just curious about the enchanting world of verses, this step-by-step guide will empower you to unlock the power of poetry. Step 1: Embracing Vulnerability through Poetry This step is all about diving into the depths of your emotions and embracing the power of vulnerability in your introduction to poetry journey. Start by setting aside dedicated time for self-reflection. Grab a journal or find a quiet corner where you can let your thoughts flow freely. Explore your personal experiences, joys, fears, and struggles. Allow yourself to be open and honest with your emotions. Write without judgment or restraint, letting your pen dance across the page. By embracing vulnerability, you’ll discover a wellspring of inspiration and authenticity that will unleash the raw emotional power of poetry. I dwell in PossibilityâA fairer House than ProseâMore numerous of WindowsâSuperiorâ for Doorsâ -from I Dwell in Possibilty (1862) by Emily Dickinson. She is regarded as one of the earliest feminists and her works reflect many empowering strong woman poems. This, however, might not be as easy as plucking an apple from your neighborâs orchard. You have to dig the ground, plant the seed, water it every day, and give it time to grow into a tree. On days, it might not feel worth it. Or too stressful to continue. Or too overpowering even. It is important, in those moments, to remember that being vulnerable is a choice and by making this choice, you have already braved your greatest fears. Step 2: Unleashing Creativity and Finding Your Voice Unleash the wild, untamed poet, or shall I say: artist, within you! Take a playful approach to writing by engaging in creative exercises and prompts. Experiment with different poetic forms, styles, and perspectives. Step outside your comfort zone and explore unconventional metaphors, surprising word choices, and vivid imagery. Embrace the unexpected, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It’s through this exploration that you’ll discover your unique poetic voiceâa voice that resonates with authenticity and captivates your readers. Something I have talked about in much detail in my previous poetry basics article is the power of reading. With so much works available for free reading on the internet, your introduction to poetry journey will only be spoilt with choices. But the purpose of reading is not to curb your creativity or individuality but to build a sturdy canvas for you to paint the story you want to tell. Follow the poetry basics but donât get bound by them. Step 3: Craftsmanship and Refinement Now that you’ve unleashed your poetic creativity, it’s time to refine your work and elevate it to new heights. Treat each poem as a sculpture waiting to be chiseled into perfection. Read your poems aloud to identify any clunky phrases or awkward rhythms. Trim away unnecessary words to create concise and impactful lines. Pay attention to the sensory details and imagery, making them more vivid and evocative. Experiment with different line breaks and stanza structures to enhance the flow and pacing of your poems. Embrace the role of an editor, revising and polishing until your poem shines with brilliance. Remember, craftsmanship takes time and dedication, but the end result will be a poem that leaves a lasting impact on your readers. Step 4: Sharing and Connecting with Others Poetry is meant to be shared, like a delicious slice of cake that’s too good to keep to yourself. It’s time to step out of your poetic cocoon and share your work with the world. In the modern world, thereâs a plethora of ways to connect with fellow poets, whether it’s through local writing groups, online communities, or open mic nights. [VIDEO] Sharing your poems allows you to receive feedback, gain new perspectives, and foster a sense of belonging in the vibrant poetry community. Remember, even if someone doesn’t fully appreciate your poem, youâve still imparted bits and pieces of your thoughts and ideas to them. Perhaps, forever. Thatâs a win!
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In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about poetry: It lives on. A few broken sentences, abrupt grammar, repetition of words and phrases, and a sense of something meaningful in the often jumbled versesâthat is poetry. TikTok and Instagram Reels might have simplified things exponentially in 2023, but poetry still holds this very essence from the carvings of prehistoric cavemen and the earliest shamans. No guide to poetry, the ethereal art form, can ever begin without acknowledging its footprints on human history, influencing it by tapping into who we are and what we can become. From Shakespeare contributing words to the English language to John Milton inspiring the American Revolution or the works of Tagore and Kazi Nazrul fueling the Indian war for independence to the nameless men and women who scribed little poems on the back of their journals, poetry has lived and breathed among us as an eternal friend. In this guide to poetry, I will share my thoughts and views on how to enter the dragon, in other words, the universe of poetry, and learn how to read and understand poetry as it is. Guide to Poetry: What is it and Why is it? An attempt to define poetry is like defining the path of a raindrop. Unpredictable. Discreet. How can you even track that droplet once it touches the earth, flows and sneaks in through cracks, and travels under the surface? Surely, there is no science to writing a great poem. No hard rules or formulas or the perfect recipe. Yet, what binds together the heart of every poem is its ability to go beneath the crust of human skin and touch us where we were scared (but waiting) to be touched. So instead of what is poetry, Iâll talk briefly about why poetry is significant to our existence in this beginnerâs guide to poetry. Letâs look at it this way. If there is a word you do not know, you can open the Oxford Dictionary, or more conveniently ask Google, and you will get the meaning. But if there is an emotion you do not feel, there is no convenient tool to make you feel it. And if there is a boiling emotion deep beneath your skin and you canât bring it to the surface, there is no science to help you out. This is where art, regardless of its form, comes in. If there is a thought you want to express but know no single word to convey the full depths of it, there is no AI djinn to do it accurately for you. But if you can delicately envelop it in a poem (yours or penned by someone dead for centuries), you will be able to clone a piece of your soul and place it deep inside the heart of another. Unlike science, this will never be marred by the surge of technological advancements. How to Read and Understand Poetry? âI want them to waterski / across the surface of a poem / waving at the authorâs name on the shore.â Billy Collins, Introduction to Poetry Looking for an adventure down dark dungeons, mystic gardens, serpentine mountain trails, and shrouded canyons? Poetry can help. But, not literally. Thatâs the key to reading and understanding poetry. It is not, usually, a literal depiction of themes or messages, unlike prose. A verse, on a surface level, might simply talk about flowers, honey bees, rolling clouds, or infinitely different things while they could be metaphors for human life, emotions, societal events, or even politics. To understand a poem, sit with an open mind and some patience. Some poems will hit your soul right off the package, even when you are inside a busy crowd, while some will creep inside your soul in the solitude of the late night. Think of a poem as a shapeless fluid ready to take up the shape of your thoughts and imagination. The poet might have added a bit of color or fragrance to make it more to your liking, but in the end, it is yours to shape, weave, and transform. Also, consider poems as the best guide to poetry. This means, the more you read the better you will get at deciphering them. Supplement it with reading about the poetâs life, the social situation leading up to the poem, and even the general literature backdrop of that era. There are many other step-by-step guides on how to read and understand poetry (and I might come up with one too), but this was my take on it. Hereâs a more conventional one for reference. How to Find Meaning in Poetry? Delving into the more technical aspects of reading (or writing, if you will) poetry, there are a number of forms and styles of poetry to keep in mind. Some poems will have lines that rhyme at specific intervals while others will be free-flowing like a river. Then there is meter, rhyme scheme, and the usage of literary devices. For instance, Shakespearean sonnets are characterized by the fourteen-line form, abab rhyme scheme, and the iambic pentameter (more on these specific aspects in my upcoming posts on guide to poetry). On the other hand, elfchen is a typical eleven-word German poetry form and Haiku is a Japanese style that follows a 5-7-5 syllable form. Finally, poetry relies heavily on literary devices like simile, metaphor, alliteration, and a bunch of other elements and techniques that have developed over centuries. The good thing is you donât always need to recognize these devices by their names to enjoy a good poem. Many devices like personification, alliteration, and onomatopoeia can still weave the magic of emotions even if you are unaware of them. Honing Your Writing Skills: A Guide to Becoming a Poet Robert Frost, an impeccable and influential American poet, once wrote, âIn three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.â A century later, if I may, Iâll rephrase it in my guide to
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