Rich in imagery metaphorical images and divinity: A book worth remembering: A Perspective—Kunal Roy

Name of the Book: Anemone Morning and other Poems.

Name of the author: Gopal Lahiri.

Publisher: Penprints 

Price: INR 350

First Edition: April 2024.

ISBN : 978-81-967932-1-0

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It is often asserted with a touch of firm conviction that Literature is the mirror reflection of Society. And Poetry is not only the criticism of life or the emotions recollected in tranquility, as perceived by Arnold and Wordsworth, but is the sheer reflection of our soul, our very own realm.

   Within the artistic canvas of "Anemone Morning and other Poems", Gopal Lahiri 's poems blossom with creativity. There are various angles which are adroitly conjoined to spawn the different planes of the emotive wave! There is mother nature whose hues of vivacity touch the core. Love, the most fragile emotion manages to survive amid loneliness and languishment. No poem is deemed to be complete without the intoxicating aroma of nostalgia. The poet reminds us of Somerset Maugham, who is shown as a painter of soul and landscape in " The Lotus Eaters".

     Lahiri 's this book of poems is divided into four distinct sections, each drawing inspiration from the different shapes of life. They are " Resurrection", " Dreamer's Search - Green Path", " Mind's Eye" and " Miscellany". Notably the fourth and the final section is further classified into four different types of poetry like " Gogyoshi", " Haiku", " Senryu" and "Haibun" respectively.

       The opening poem " Anemone Morning " contains a line , " Where are those woods, I think , I know, which echoes the view of Robert Frost in " Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". The poet says, " Whose woods these are I think I know". A pristine admirer of nature. Love and beauty have interspersed with one another in such a manner that not even a pseudo force can separate the elements! " Solitude" seeks our attention, as the poet says , " I am fortunate enough to touch something akin to air" Unwontedly we, the poor mortals consider solitude a negative trait, but the poet is incorrigibly optimistic and never takes a backseat to speak with aplomb that solitude too brings comfort and nurtures creativity for a broader canvas! His other poems in ' Resurrection ' like " Universe", " Longing", " Darkness", " River" and " Human Love" are equally appealing to the readers. Though the theme differs from one another, there is a single solitary point where the prime approach meets to rediscover the soul!

   "Dreamer Search - Green Path' is a classic approach to his flourishing fantasy. " Take me to the Forest" reveals the poet's urge to ostracize himself from the razzle dazzle of the city life. The poet vividly describes " The sky is full of unexplained clouds/ gives an exploratory image". The image installs a sense of posivitism in us. " Lights and Shadows ", another brilliant poem sums up the essence in the line , " Where life is there, death is inevitable ". On the other hand, " Earth Day Smile" is completely different in perspective, as the poet says, " without flowers there will be no poetry, no music", " bandage the beauty, sing the soulful song ". Such lines exhibit the affirmation of the poet. The elegance in flowers helps to create poetry and music. Infact there is close connection between the two. Undoubtedly, a beautiful object creates more beautiful objects to make the earth a better place! Here 'flower' is an inspiration to each and every aspiring soul! Moreover, keep aside the bruises to chant the song of life to make the day! Several other poems like " Shoreless Voice", " Live Rain" and " Rain in the Wild" blissfully contemplate on the variety of creation and their eventual impact upon our lives. 

   " Mind's Eye" - the subtitle is suggestive of the axiom that skinny eyes often commit a blunder, but the ' inner eye' can perceive everything beyond the obvious. 

In the poem " Hunger", the poet mentions , " Hunger is the only story I know" . He has talked at length on the belly cramps when one wants food and nothing else. It doesn't matter if the bucks are there or not, hunger would toll upon at its own hour. A bitter truth indeed! " Amnesia" is an interesting poem, where the poet admits in the closing lines, " No one talks about resistance , / how long can we live in amnesia? ". An interrogation. Literally humans cannot survive in amnesia for too long. Moreover, if it is deliberate or an ailment , the hands of clock would prove in the long run. " Winter and My City" aims to bring forth the poet's dispassionate utterance in the opening sentence, " My City doesn't like winter". He has cited the reasons too. The bare nature, the unbearable chill, the thick darkness and above all a sense of glum run through its common thread! Short poems like " Water", " Embrace" , " Cluster" and others deserve eulogy in every possible manner. Shorter in structure though, profound and provocative in texture and rhythm. 

   As we move closer to the book, we discover four distinct categories of poetry. However, the name " Miscellany" is being given to the whole. Short, simple, taut and terse, written in either prose or poetry form. Carry a different token of love, nostalgia, dejection and detachment. One might feel not to read, but once one goes through the lines written from the heart and soul, a different dimension of life would appear flawlessly! 

     The book is primarily a conglomeration of " contemplative, eco - critical , nature, real and surreal poems" . His poems appeared in various esteemed journals across the globe. Lahiri has hugged life and its colours and contours. A 'gentle fervour' is very much in vogue. 

     To comment on the style and diction, one can readily discover the simplicity of expressions enriched with imagery and metaphorical images. He possesses an eye for nuance and an ear for irony. Lahiri is aware of the brevity of human life and therefore has invested himself to add some significance to this utterly insignificant world. Unlike other poets, Lahiri has moved ahead of times and tried to encourage in an intrapersonal communicative network to boost up the human race and make it a worth reading!!

                                         - Kunal Roy 

( Assistant Professor, Dept of English Language and Communication, George Group of Colleges, Kolkata)