JOIN US‘The poetry of earth is never dead,’ wrote the poet. He was, for the most part, referring to the marvels and mysteries of Nature. I would go a step further and say that poetry in Man is never dead. Rich or poor, intellectual or low-brow, the human being turns poetical whenever he wants to express his deepest emotions.
The very beginning of life, one might say, is the beginning of poetry. Moments after baby’s birth, parents are busy choosing the best and most evocative name for the new-born. Never mind that ‘Leo’ might turn out to be more of a mouse or that ‘Bhagya’ destined to be dogged by misfortune all her life. Names can be metaphorical too. So we have Vikramaditya, Sivaramakrishnan and even Sagaya Mary Victoria Rani!
Contrary to what is believed, poetry is not confined to the classroom, trapped within dreary tomes. Our surroundings pulsate with it. Buildings, much like people, sport imaginative names. ‘His Grace’, ‘Eden Heights’ and ‘Rich and Famous’ are among those you can come across.
The sports field, you would imagine, is an arena of brawn and sweat with little room for poetry. But meet ‘Miss Mysterious’, ‘Prince of Persia’, ‘Melody of Love’ and ‘Elusive Warrior’. Who are they? Race horses, of course! These magnificent animals bear names that are a poet’s delight. Steeped in romantic imagery, they remain and resonate in the mind.
Hidden in everyday scenes of life lies much poetry of the eye. Mangoes are deftly arranged in golden pyramids and cashew nuts perch on each other like miniature ballerinas. Fashion ramps too have their own lyricism. Like the songs of literary masters, their rich and colourful creations captivate, excite and mystify the senses. As a subject of study, poetry arouses hostility rather than admiration. The practical-minded will dismiss it as mere froth and bubble. But quietly, with a magic all its own, it succeeds in entering every sphere of life, adding colour and brightness to this work-a-day world of ours.
Is poetry verse and worse? Only the unimaginative will say so. The rest will agree wholeheartedly that it’s art with loads of heart.