In "The Poems and The Poet," journey through the intricacies of the human experience as seen through the eyes of a poet deeply attuned to the rhythms of life. This captivating collection of verse delves into the depths of sorrow and happiness, exploring the dichotomy of emotions that color our existence.
From the haunting beauty of "The Silent Moon" to the introspective musings of "I, Me and My," each poem offers a window into the soul of the poet, inviting readers to contemplate the complexities of self and identity. "The Loss" and "The Tragedies of Displacement" confront the harsh realities of life's transience and upheaval, while "The Creative Spark" ignites the imagination with its vibrant energy.
As the collection unfolds, themes of time, nature, and love weave seamlessly through the tapestry of verse. "The Symphony of Time" and "Relativity" offer meditations on the fleeting nature of existence, while "Nature" celebrates the timeless beauty of the natural world. "Love" and "Fear" explore the depths of human emotion, while "Hope" and "Disappointment" navigate the delicate balance between aspiration and reality.
In "The Poems and The Poet," death and decay are not feared but embraced as integral parts of the cycle of life. "The Eternal Song" and "The Joy of Life" celebrate the impermanence of existence, while "The Existence" and "A Body in Decay" confront mortality with unflinching honesty.
Through the lyrical interplay of words, "The Poems and The Poet" paints a vivid portrait of the human condition, inviting readers to journey through the depths of emotion and experience. With each poem, the poet offers a glimpse into their soul, inviting readers to discover the beauty and complexity of life through the power of verse.
Parihar’s collection is abundant with such poignant lines, often on the subjects of life and death, as the poet urges readers to “honor the body in decay” and “listen to the eternal song.” Another unifying theme is perseverance amid hardship, with special regard for displaced people, as noted in a dedication “to the disappointments of the displacement” and a trio of displacement poems illuminating lives on “a journey of longing” with “Their spirits unbroken / their hope not withdrawn” despite being umoored “In a world that offers no serenity.” Parihar’s “The Displaced Souls” digs into the immigrant and refugee experience, celebrating resilience born of adversity.
Like the collection as a whole, this poem, urgent in empathy, speaks to the poet’s conception of a universal balance operating within the phenomenon of suffering and beyond; disappointment is countered by wonder, “for in the balance of light and dark, // We find the beauty of the cosmic spark,” and poetry is a means of putting this duality to practice.
Takeaway: Thoughtful, richly human collection exploring death, displacement, and more.
Comparable Titles: Claude McKay’s “After the Winter,” Sun Yung Shin’s “Immigrant Song”
Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite -Five Star Treat yourself to a collection of inspirational poems with Vikas Parihar's The Poems and The Poet. The book opens with "Sorrow and Happiness," an illuminating poem that shows how we can find the light in our darkest times through empathy and understanding. "I, Me, and My" calls out those self-centered souls driven by ego, greed, and selfishness and urges them to take a lesson in humility. "The Poem" celebrates the inherent artistry of the poetic medium and revels in its beauty and grace. From the grandest cosmological scales to the smallest moments of silence between heartbeats, everything falls under the vast tapestry of "Time." "The Joy of Life" highlights those aspects of life that make it worth living. "The Duality" shows the contradictions that surround us in nature and life.
Through this mesmerizing poetry collection.Vikas Parihar touches upon a diverse range of topics and themes related to life, nature, and existence. The Poems and The Poet is a must-read for poetry lovers. It delves into the different facets of the human experience, including love, sorrow, death, hope, fear, time, and more. In his verses, Parihar uses rhyming quatrains with a lyrical flair and flow that makes them a joy to read. Each poem feels unique and brings something of its own to the larger narrative. I enjoyed every single poem, but I found myself particularly moved by "The Life and Its Expanse" and "The Tragedies of Displacement." Overall, this is a wonderful collection of poems that inspire and enlighten. Poetry readers should not miss out on this one!
