I never dreamt that there would be a day when I would start relating this form of literature called poetry!

My early exposure to poetry was limited to poems that were part of the curriculum. I might have liked one or 2 of them (for no apparent reason), but had never really understood any of them! Yes, the rhyming patterns and the very many literary devices employed were a good puzzle to crack when first taught – but then…..

Post college poetry had become obsolete (not that it was of much or any use earlier) – up until a few months ago, i.e. I suddenly found myself taking to poetry! It happened quite simply – one day, reading a post on poetry (in my cousin’s blog) caused a ‘poetic nerve’ in me to go clink, and lo & behold, I had become a poet, overnight. A few poems later I realized the potential they held – they were severe weapons of mass destruction! (un) Fortunately tho, the ‘mass’ was limited to the few masochists I know and one victim of my sadism!

Anyway, so this newfound sadistic pleasure led me to graze unknown pastures of the world of poetry! I stumbled upon some poems that were touted as nice but made no sense to me (revoking painful & at times funny memories of poetry classes), and certain others that were genuine piece of beauty. The more I read, the more I began to relate to them. My exposure still remains limited – but I can now at least get myself to read poems and appreciate some of them, even if they don’t entirely make sense (to me).

Incidentally, it is also now that I am more appreciative of and receptive to paintings than I had ever been in the past (the overdose of museums and gallery visits over the past few weeks helped the cause). Again my exposure to and understanding of the art is restricted, but at least there is hope!

I am amazed how the 2 forms of art can so beautifully intermingle. A painting could make a poet’s pen swing and a poem could make a painter conjure up images that come to life on his canvas. Then there is the common inspiration – ‘life’, that thrills me. I particularly like landscape and still-life; impressionism impresses me very much. I am very fond of surrealism as well – even if it doesn’t always make sense (maybe it does at a ‘sub-conscious’ level!).

Recently, I was inspired to unleash one of my ‘poetic weapons’, a piece on vase(s). A few days later I found myself being particularly drawn to the ‘vase with flowers’ by Monet.

So does all this indicate something; maybe they reveal some hitherto unknown or maybe known but ignored part of my personality?

I have read more poems in the past couple of months than I might have in my entire life (not that I am particualarly old or anything). Here’s a poem by a contemporary poet – Ian Parks. I chanced upon a collection of his poems on the net and loved this one.

Ghost
Slowly your touch fades from me.
Again I’m only dreaming
but the soft curve of your spine

has left its indentation
on the sheet – a question-mark
no answer satisfies.

What constitutes a haunting?
Is it a chill encounter
at the bottom of the stair –

an unclenched fist; a rapid movement
in the dark, dispelling air
Or is it love returning

through an unfamiliar door;
the ones we overlooked
who loved us most?

And now I see
I have to let you go.
Waking as dawn commences

on the cold and empty street
I learn at last what others know:
persistence makes a ghost