Ah Poetry Review [Part-1]

Before I begin, I must say that I am thankful to “Blogadda” for giving me this unique honour to review this book ‘Ah Poetry’. Since this is my first book review ever, I asked this to myself, am I qualified enough to review a poetry collection, because I have often seen people grind the author in the name of critique?  I have no formal education on literature of course. Poetry to me is very heartfelt and personal. Over years of reading I have learnt to enjoy it more. So that is what I had in mind while writing this review. I am really hoping that this article gives an honest impression of what the book has in store for a reader.

First of all this is very refreshing – the whole concept what makes this book. The book brings together fifty five poets from different corners of India within two covers of a book and gives a chance to get acquainted with their creative flavour. However, as astonishing that may sound, I must add that bringing such a group of fresh talents was not an easy task. This group was formed as an orkut community and they dreamt of coming up as a published collection – which I am sure taken quite a commitment from the people behind it and I wholeheartedly appreciate the effort. This once again shows how powerful social media can be. This is probably the first time, that I have seen a community has come up with a wonderful product and I am sure will be considered as a landmark in time to come.

I am halfway through the book and it is an interesting journey – a kaleidoscope of emotions and subjects poets have chosen to showcase the best of what they have written. Albeit reading is fine, but any voracious book reader cannot claim to be a real critique. I looked at the poems from three different perspectives (in that order as well), because the best I have read so far in my life, the poets have mastered in each of them.
– the theme (the sentiment, the emotion or the plot that prodded the writers thought process),
- the choice of words (sometimes the words are so chosen that the leave an effect in the mind of the reader long after reading)
- how accurately the words establish the theme of the poem (some might choose good words but if they do not carve the stone, it won’t be called a good sculpture).
However, it pains me to say it that a good percentage of poetry what I have read so far, does not qualify in the first criteria at all, forget the other two. Poetry is not vague, it is not an obscure corner of one’s mind – rather it is like a sunny day, where every single reader can relate to the theme of the verse. In more than just a handful of instances I have found that the poems the authors have chosen to showcase their creativity, does not make it because the poem fails to bring out a theme and in which case the choice of words goes against it. I am assuming that the poems published here were nominated by the poets themselves rather than handpicked by an editor, because if that is the case, it sets a very poor example. I gather that exhaustive proof reading has not been done – because there are ample examples of typographical errors, which cannot be overlooked.

However, I found a few poets worth mentioning here from what I have read – Anand Madhukar, Ajinkya H Raut, Anu Cowlagi, Baljeet Randhawa and Dolly Singh. Anand rightly says –
“Things which are gone are gone forever
But what remains must live through its days.”

I am looking forward to conclude the review in another part sometime soon this week.

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