Sunil Rajagopal writes “What goes into a butterfly” to
commemorate the simplicity of the elements of nature, and to capture man’s
involvement in it. He touches upon co-existence and symbiotic living among organisms
and holds up a contrast between what’s natural and what is constructed by man.
“Up
and around
The young
brown mountain, till we found
A land
without trees, and piles of cotton
Close enough
to kiss, just too far to touch!
A shadow
passed, blotting the blue
Skimming
the scree, trailed by a scream!
We stood
in thrall, to the queen of the mountain
Who wears
light, her crown of gold
And the
weight of the sky!
It was
but a moment, but who will tell that
To the little army standing tall, on the back of my neck?
--- We Went Looking for a Golden Eagle, Sunil Rajagopal.
Written in very short snippets, the easy verses essentially
testify that expression can be achieved even through simplicity. The poet’s
words are brisk, bitesize and he writes with an extraordinary quality of
introspection and recognition.
The book divides itself into eight parts, each
focusing on a central theme. While the Part 1 (Quiet Roads and Hidden Nooks)
talk of the fluidity of time and the inevitability of the cycle of death, the Part
2 (In Every Little Drop), harps on the sheer magical beauty of nature, completely
mesmerizing us with the utter expressiveness. Part 3 (On Long Walks) focuses on
man’s interaction with the ecosystems thriving in the bounty of nature, and
gives subtle hints of the conflict between unhindered natural processes and superimposed
industrialization. Part 4 (Birds in the sky) is my personal favorite section of
the book. As its name suggests, these poems trace the life and habitation of
various birds in this earth. Ranging from the Banasan falcon to the vultures,
and even silver owls to seagulls; the poet vividly puts to words the majestic existence
of these creatures of the sky. Equipped with wonderful descriptions of their
appearance and lifestyle, these poems serve as a direct reflection of the poet’s
keen eye to the elements of nature. From Part 5 to Part 7, the poet takes on a very
skeptical and worrisome tone, where he underlines the cruel ways of man which
have pounced its claws on natural processes. He ponders over the indirect blatancy
of the hypocrisy of mankind, conveying the contrast of nature with the urban
habitats. In these sections and in the section that follows, a clear shift is
seen in the tone of the narrator. He goes on being less and less mesmerized by
the enchanting qualities of natural beings, and instead talks of his own conflicts
and unfulfilled expectations from various things around. The final section Part
8 (The Window Within) looms large with its theme of self-realization and inward
looking, deriving lessons from the personifications of the natural things we
see around. It allots more importance to the projected centricity of mankind
within the broad prospect of the universe.
“I ran
and ran, and then some more
Down dark
alleys, chasing tranquil light
Till I could
no more.
There in
the dark, with nowhere to go
Standing
still and breathing slow,
I found it within.”
---- Within, Sunil Rajagopal
Moving on to the literary aspects of the poetry, I must
say that the poet’s ability to achieve empathy and reinforce tolerance through
his verses is indeed very commendable. He writes with the usage of words brimming
with sheer beauty, and his impactful diction strengthens the thoughts he wants
to convey. The linking between the stray thoughts within a particular poem is often
left undone, perhaps to invite reader perceptions. As a consequence, the poems
never align themselves rigidly to a particular theme. Rather, they lay themselves
out without any bar, and the theme emerges like a flicker of a flame rising
from a wildfire. The verses often shoot out uncontrollably, giving the notion
that the narrator has been carried away. Although this might be a delightful
quality to some, it is to be noted that his kind of vague ambiguity often struggles
to let the poem speak for itself. In an attempt to shroud themselves under the cloak
of universalism and multi-interpretational takeaways, they often get lost in
the mist of nonchalant nothingness. Even with the plethora of reasons to be
recommended tainted by some downsides, this pretty collection of poetry deserves
a read from any reader out there.
➦ Seems interesting? Grab the book here !
➦ You can connect to the poet at @onlongwalks
Disclaimer: This review is in lieu of a review copy.
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