BOOK REVIEW OF- Making A Poem
BY Vihang A Naik
Paperback: 50 pages
Publisher: Authors press (2018)
ISBN-10: 9387281299
ISBN-13: 978-9387281295
ASIN: B079WMPBNJ
REVIEW OF THE BOOK-
The Title itself gives us a hint about the amalgamation between the poem and the Poet. There are certain natures of which the mutual influence is such that the more they say; the more they have to say. For these out of association grows adhesion, and out of adhesion, amalgamation. That’d what poetry and poet all about.
The book has five subdivisions in it- 1) Are you looking for that poet 2) A poet as a young man 3) making a poem 4) a poem comes alive 5) a poet
I remember somewhere someone had said that In an age when nations and individuals routinely exchange murder for murder, when the healing grace of authentic spirituality is usurped by the divisive politics of religious organizations, and when broken hearts bleed pain in darkness without the relief of compassion, the voice of an exceptional poet producing exceptional work is not something the world can afford to dismiss. The poems like “ A Readers Response” and “ A disturbed sleep” very well defines the idea of the section.
The second section describes the stages and the thought process of the poet. It describes a dream and to the same context it answers a beautiful question- What do I dream of? I dream of quiet times, and productive days, working in an environment I am comfortable and at peace. I dream of being healthy and eating right and sleeping right and knowing I am working toward the life that I want to have. I dream of being with loved ones and seeing them happy and calm and with smiles on their faces while we enjoy each others company. I dream of a time when I am able to think without interruption and create without distraction. I dream of a simple life that allows me the freedom to be a good man and a happy man in the best of times and the worst of times.
The next section deals with the making if the poem. I really loved this section especially for the poems like “Epic” and “questions”. All poets and story tellers alive today make a single brotherhood; they are engaged in a single work, picturing our human life. Whoever pictures life as he sees it, reassembles in his own way the details of existence which affect him deeply, and so creates a spiritual world of his own.
The next section nt only describes the living of the poem but also describes a beautiful message to the readers. Don’t fail through defects of temper and over-sensitiveness at moments of trial. One of the great helps to success is to be cheerful; to go to work with a full sense of life; to be determined to put hindrances out of the way; to prevail over them and to get the mastery. Above all things else, be cheerful; there is no beatitude for the despairing.
The poet ends his book by describing the word “Poet” . Thirsty for being, the poet ceaselessly reaches out to reality, seeking with the indefatigable harpoon of the poem a reality that is always better hidden, more real. The poem’s power is as an instrument of possession but at the same time, ineffably, it expresses the desire for possession, like a net that fishes by itself, a hook that is also the desire of the fish. To be a poet is to desire and, at the same time, to obtain, in the exact shape of the desire.
POSITIVE ASPECTS-
THE AMALGAMATION OF THE POEM AND THE POET.
THE LUCID LANGUAGE.
THE FAVOURITE REFERENCE-
“A Story always slips out of your hand”
-A Story
THE FAVOURITE QUOTE-
“A Poem sails above road level
With yesterdays flood report”
-In Rains
RATINGS-
Overall I would like to rate the book 41 on a scale of 50.
4 stars out of 5
Originality of the plot and sub plots- 7/10
Net emotions in the story- 8/10
Usage of words and phrases-9/10
The title, cover and the illustration-9/10
The net impact on the readers- 8/10
Do get a copy of the book if you love poetry from
https://www.amazon.in/Making-Poem-Vihang-Naik/dp/B079WMPBNJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521469118&sr=8-1&keywords=making+a+poem
About The Author
Vihang A. Naik (b. September 2,1969) is a contemporary Indian award wining poet and translator. Born in Surat, Gujarat.India. He read for a BA in English studies and Philosophy and took an MA in English Literature and Indian Literature in translation, all at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.He received his primary education from Navrachana School , Vadodara besides other local schools in Gujarat, India. After a collection of his English poems, City Times and Other Poems (1993) , his Gujarati language collection of poems, Jeevangeet (2001) was published by Navbharat Sahitya Mandir , ( Ahmedabad ) in 2001, dedicated to the cause of victims of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake. His third publication is a collection of English poetry, Making A Poem is published by Allied Publishers’, Mumbai (2004) . His Poetry Manifesto ( New & Selected Poems ) is published by Indialog Publishers’ Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi ( 2010 ) . He has taught English for about more than a decade in UGC recognized Colleges including Shree Ambaji Arts College affiliated to Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University , Gujarat .
Reviewed by-
Sayan Basak
Kolkata
