Poems that talk of concrete realizations | "Death is my only beloved" by Laudeep Singh


“Death is my only beloved.” Judging just by the title, one can get a hint that the book is going to be an ode of submissiveness, a statement of acceptance of one’s destiny. But upon reading all the poems, it turns out that the book is more than just that. It talks of concrete realizations and moving on from earlier perceptions, dwelling in an arena of adaptivity to change, induced by the rupture of faith. The poems do not cater to a very specific topic, nor do they convey something very marginalized. They are more like a daily journal of speedy thoughts, recorded as a way of unburdening them. They make us feel as if we are able to see a part of the poet’s mind.

Written in crisp and broken verses, the poems have a touch of minimalism. They are brisk and staggered, like short spells of rain. Just like a short drizzle of rainfall is enough to rejuvenate the parched lands, these poems precisely convey their thoughts within no time. This is the kind of poetry which can be enjoyed while sipping a light beverage, basking in the orange rays of the afternoon sun. They will make us ponder and brood over our own thoughts, and perhaps lend a hand in sieving them.


“The shoulder

Is worth weeping on,

So slurp up your tears,

Roll up your sleeves

And strive to respire

Without any restraint.

 

You came unaccompanied

And you’ll go single-handedly

With an incredible amount of misery,

Without knowing unerringly

Why it all happened

In the first place.”

 

A hint of melancholy and aloofness lingers in the verses. The poet sometimes seems very jovial on his romantic ventures, but most of the times he carries an air of skepticism and detachment. He questions popular notions, and records his individual conclusions to everything he perceives. He seems to be least influenced by external opinions, but certifies his own opinions instead. In spite of such individualistic approach, the poems carry a stark resemblance to everyday, unimportant affairs—our day to day life. Introspective and thought provoking, these poems are bound to make you think and wonder.

Owing to the broken verses and the ‘modern poetry’ genre that the poems are based upon, they often ended too soon. A more coherent and fluid approach could have heightened the poetic effect. Supported by the intelligent illustrations, the poems did stand out; but there could have been an increased streamlining of the primary thoughts behind them. I’ll recommend this collection of poetry to those of you who are interested in a thought inducing journey of perceptions and realizations, but aren’t willing to delve deep into complex analyses of the same.


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Disclaimer: This review is in lieu of a review copy. 

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