What makes poetry unique.

Poetry, I believe is the language of the soul. It is a literary work in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by the use of distinctive style and rhythm, unique to every writer; poems collectively is a genre of literature. It is quality of beauty and intensity of emotion that is regarded as characteristic of poems. Poems are collections of words that express an idea or emotion that is often uses as imagery and metaphor. If you are a poetry lover it is likely you notice that poems come in many, many different forms. As you read and perhaps write your own poems, it is helpful to know the different kinds of poems. There are many different types of poems. The difference between each type is based on the format, rhyme scheme and subject matter. Poems are meant to be heard & read; a language that “drips from the tongue to the soul of the reader” . Only a true poetry lover will pay attention to the sound of language as well as to the meaning of language: and sound, when used intentionally, one which always enhances or reinforces the meaning. Writing poetry is as natural to them as breathing. Poetry (verse) is literature that works through sounds and images, that can be visualized in its real sense. It was originally recited (spoken aloud) to an audience, and its rhythms and sounds affect the meaning of the words. Poetic language is concentrated, because it says a lot in few words and expresses feelings and ideas.
It is worth taking a stroll down the path, the poems of Namitha Ks & Arun M Sivakrishna take us along as you read their book of poems: Silence and sound & Songs of a solitary tree.

In quiet contemplation of my journey.

In quiet contemplation on a year that fled in a wink of an eye,  I know many things have changed. A mixture of much heart burns and also the little blessings that  meant a lot to me. I think of all the lessons that life taught me the hard way, letting me know where I stand in everyone's life. Life always goes by and we keep learning to adjust to the new norms of life, though some come with a pain that is raw and real. I guess I could say that life moved on in spite of everything  though it doesn't seem the right thing to say because it is an adjustment, a compromise, a sacrifice and my heart moved on in spite of all that came my way to hurt me and made me stronger.

It was an eye-opener year for me, which the cataract of the eyes dissolved making me see everything in a new perspective. I feel thankful to the creeping crab, the emperor of all maladies, for being continuously in love with me, making me realize that it is high time I pampered myself and also for making me value every moment I am given to pursue the things that meant a lot to me. The physical pains made me realize that I was strong enough to endure all the pain inflicted upon me, be it physical or psychological.


I have always been one to take every day as it comes with the blessing and the challenges, em,bracing my present moments without dwelling in all that taught me great lessons the hard way. A year that has gone past is always a period of transition in one way of the other. A time to introspect and reflect upon the mistakes,  the wrongs and rights. A year of poignant awareness of what I lost,  the struggles through my pains and challenges; appreciation of all the blessings that came my way, be it heartaches or moments to cherish.


As I reflect upon myself, I realize I have made mistakes, may be hurt others directly or indirectly, that made my rebelling mind question myself, to a sincere reflection in my journey of life. As the year ends, I reflect upon all that little things that meant a lot to me. Those that gave me an urge to forget all my pains to accomplish that which  was a dream, I dared to hope for after several years.


As the count down begins, I take this time of reflection, to look back, remember and learn. To do what makes me happy because when I look back I feel I should have my worth of happiness doing what makes me happy. The last three years gave me lot of challenges that I withstood with a smile, daring to question all that came to attack me physically. The year is is a powerful time to celebrate yourself and also a time of reflection and resolutions hoping for a bright new year, with new challenges to face.


I learnt those lessons that made me realize what I mean to everyone in my life. I learned the hard way that anyone can block you and remove you from the friend list  in a jiffy with no regrets. I learned that the love and care can get changed in a blink of an eye, with no reasons. I learned that what even challenges I have gone through are my own and very few understand the impact it would have caused me. I learned that possibly many wold be happy that I went through a lot of pain and very few genuinely tried to understand my journey through life. I learned that even my close ones, can betray me and also break my trust by conveying whatever I voiced to others.


To put it in a nut shell, I learned the hard way that it is best to be like a turtle in its own shell, minding  own path of life, doing what makes me happy irrespective of what anyone thinks. A time to live for myself also, doing the little things that mean a lot tome, things that make me happy enjoying every moment of life and achieving the goal I set for myself in the fulfillment of a dream. I thank all who have been a part of my life, as I think life is a continuous learning process and I learn from everyone something new. Every challenge is new and I look at it as something new that I could learn from.

SILHOUETTES: Review In City Express, TVPM edition dt 29-12-2014...

Songs of a solitary tree  by Arun M Sivakrishna a #Book of #Poetry

SILHOUETTES: Review In City Express, TVPM edition dt 29-12-2014...: Glad to see a snippet in City Express of 29/12/2014. Reviewed by Aswathy Karnaver..

The beauty of a misty- rainy morning.

Every one of us have a morning routine. I woke up to the pitter-patter of raindrops, feeling a sense of joy in me to watch the raindrops on my plants and trees, each leaf heavy with the drop of rain hanging precariously. The world around looked blurry and  filled with mystery as I stepped out to be  with nature. I smiled at the weird creepy cloak of  mist  that surrounded me. A misty rainy day, most  people snuggle back to the warmth of the cozy bed, but rain and mist are closely connected to me with a unique bond that makes me want to dance in abandoned joy oblivious of everything in life. My world then looks very close, wrapped around me.

Even at half past ten in the morning, the street lights were shining in the mist covered road,  with a charm of its own. The mind wanders on its own accord through the mysterious cloak of the mist covered surrounding. It was hovering like a blanket over the Adyar river, hiding the bridge and the trees around it. The misty moments filled me with an awe as I stood over the bridge looking at the cloak of mist making even the water hazy. The beautiful misty, fleeting moment that is accompanied by an unexpected rain, made the bridge and the waters  breathtakingly  beautiful.

The presence of mist is always magical and mysterious, it disappears just as it comes making the beholder awestruck. There is so much beauty in the mist and when it is accompanied by rain, it is shrouded and gives a eerie, haunted feeling. There is a calmness on a misty morning that is beyond any description. It hangs hiding the sky and everything around from view. The blanket of mist draped over the river making everything around it beautiful,  mystic and a visual place of tranquil serenity. There is a magic in the first glimpse of the mysterious mist that is light and wispy.

The morning mist hugs the break of the day, as the silent landscape presenting a tender moment of mystic beauty. The morning mist is like pure and boundless love,  breathing in the cool fragrance of the misty breeze that tickles the senses. In the hush of the misty morning, the serenity is vexing, the calm that envelops is an inviting guest for healing all the pains. They swirl and twirl around you beckoning and whispering softly; touching with a warmth and comfort to soothe the pained and scarred soul.

Purveyors of Hope.

There are some people who make you realize that beyond every mountain you  face, there is a path, one that cannot be seen from the valley of life. More than the presence, their assuring smile makes you feel better,  have faith in their belief and makes you feel cheerful spreading a positive glow.

Cancer did bring me to a crossroad of life, knowing very well what to expect and what to face. The seriousness very well known and also understanding that with a triple negative breast cancer, I had to go forward and fight it out with all the strength in me. My doctors were purveyors of hope for me. My  oncologist  Dr. Sivakumar and his wife Dr. Kalarani, were ever smiling, warm and caring.  

 Dr. Sivakumar, born in a family of cancer victims,deviated to take up oncology as his field of specialization to alleviate the sufferings of cancer patients  He did his M.B.B.S, and then MD  in general medicine and D.M in  medical oncology , all from madras medical college- a premier medical institution. He was the best outgoing student in MD General Medicine, although he had a wide experience in treating all forms of cancers;  his interest however was management of solid tumors.  He   worked in various centers both abroad and in India and has been liked by his patients for his receptive and caring approach towards them.  Dr.  Sivakumar has his own clinic and day care center in Mylapore. 

Dr. Kalarani. was  very good in academics and did her masters in mathematics.  She choose maths as her field of specialization and research; and then obtained doctorate in maths in the year 1998.


Being moved by the mental agony of the people afflicted with cancer, Dr. Kalarani decided to change track from a mathematician to a counselling psycho oncologist.The smiling face, her loving and comforting words brought peace to the minds of the patients. A lady who had a smile for all. A smile that comforts and soothes. A  qualified psychologist from Bharathiar university, she got her formal training in the field of psycho oncology at the famous cancer institute of Chennai.  She  practices now alongside her husband at Sai Balaji  cancer clinic, Chennai.

A visit to his clinic would put all your fears aside, and give you confidence to fight out  cancer. He always has a smile on his face, the minute you enter his room. Initially when my treatment started , the way he closes his eyes, ponders over and then talks, I used to think he is about to say something serious. Later on as I got used to his ways of dealing with the patients, I realized that was his way of deciding about the treatment, and then putting it across to us. What ever be the situation, I have found him always smiling and that gives the confidence to fight on.

Dr. Kalarani, used to come with a smile that put all fears and tiredness at bay, the way she inquired each patient how they were doing. A very caring lady who had a positive word for each person. For a cancer patient, a word of care and concern, was like a miracle working on them. Empathy is considered to be very important in dealing with any patient. And it is believed that empathy generally has better results on patients. 

As Arthur Frank quotes, "One of most difficult duties is to listen to the voices of those who suffer." As people face fear, they inevitably encounter meaning of life, connection, sources of hope and transcendence. Hope is a word with so many different perceptions. Hope is that thing which keeps a cancer patient fight during the trauma of treatment. And to be a purveyor of hope for many is indeed a blessing of life. They instilled a confidence to fight on and also that cancer is not a taboo but curable.  

Photography as I see it.

The photograph is a medium that can expose, bare, or make visible something of yourself. It is a tool of revealing that which would have otherwise remained unnoticed or something that attracts you to it. At the root of this artistic, creative impulse is a keen fascination to observe that which is hidden or unseen by many. 

There are photographs or rather the clicks, where you gaze at it and you start getting fascinating thoughts, an object or something in life that they depict. I firmly believe that there is more to an image than you can see at first look. A perfectly timed click is the most beautiful moment of photography. It is also being at the right place, at the right time to capture something that is really amazing. Once in a while, I stumble upon certain photographs that stop my brain for a moment. It may be due to an instant connect to what you see, comprehend and then the reality of it.

Photography is not my cup of tea. It is a creative talent. When I see a picture, I like to understand it and I have been sending clicks to my close one's who think alike, asking them what they see in it. It is a different perspective from everyone. I look for the positives in it, though I have found some that are impossible to find any positives. Early morning after a cup of coffee or tea, I have had this habit of roaming around in my compound. I just look out for simple things that give me immense joy. A fallen leaf or a fallen flower, sometimes a falling flower that is caught on a leaf or a cobweb, a carpet of leaves or flowers, dew drops or raindrops or a bird tweeting its soul out. I find an instant connect with them, probably because I was a nature lover from my childhood.

Sometimes I used to try out a verse and send them to my friends. Recently reading my verses on fallen flowers, one of my closest friends asked me, "Is a streak of negativity seeping in?" My answer to her was, " I love sunsets, the fallen flower, the moon after new moon when it starts waxing, I look forward to seeing it daily in the evening sky."  Her reply to me was, "The problem with me is I see the pic as it is and feel the negatives and avoid it . You stare at it in the eye and visualize the next positive scene . When I look at the dark sky I just see darkness and then the twinkling stars , you foresee the next dawn . I see the setting sun and the oncoming darkness  , you see the colors the setting sun leaves behind and starts visualizing the twilight and starry night.  Not an easy to follow thing."  It is not that I don't feel negative at all, I am like anyone else, but I love to see a positive side to it. 

If I see a click and connect to it and then I am unable to understand or analyze it, I keep gazing at it and dwell in it. But at times my slowing brain takes a lot of time to comprehend it. Those are the live ones that speak a lot. A fallen flower to me is the glory of graceful aging. A click that connects provoke a thought. You can  write a beautiful story, an article or a verse seeing a photograph that is lively and beautiful. I still believe in the quote that a beautiful picture is worth more than a thousand words.  A really beautiful click gives a  description or a reflection. It is a  developing of visual literacy. It offers varied interpretations. It is like confronting it in a straightforward manner, expressions with communicative emotions, a point of view or a unifying idea of a composition and a visual element.

Photography is a visual language, that is capable of communicating. A good photograph is one that can bring out a graphical poem or story and a graphical  poem or story is one that can be visualized as a living photograph. 

“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.” Ansel Adams. 

Silence and sound by Namitha K

Poetry and prose are two different types of writing in literature. Though the distinction between poetry and poetry is a marked one, people prefer stories, fiction, drama etc to poetry. But when it comes to expressing an emotion or a particular feeling, poetry form sounds the best. It is that literary poetic form that emotes beautifully, in a way that it touches a tender spot of the reader. Not everyone can write the verses with the poetic words and make them a form of expression. 

Poetry is structured in a certain pattern that rhymes, but prose is plain text. Both poetry and prose are creative in nature and both needs talent. But poetry needs the right kind of words that have a great emotional impact. None try to understand the depth or underlying emotions in a poem. At a time when poetry has taken  a back seat, poetry forum conduct poetry fest to revive poetry. 

Silence and sound by Namitha K is a book of twenty four poems, that expresses her confusions, fears and emotions from the age of eleven to eighteen. She is an all-rounder, talented and creative. Adding below, her Mom's sister's view on Namitha's poems:
 " Her poems range from those of a typical teen riding high and low in waves of joy and lament as friendships are found and lost, her heart bursting into song with the smallest of things like the first rain or a bird soaring high up in the sky, to those of the concerns and fears of a sensitive girlhood verging on adulthood - the opportunity as well as the uncertainty it presents. 

At times, she is like a child finding beauty and wonder and a smile in little things and events around her. The element of water seems to inspire her, set the seeker in her free with boundless joy and her words pour out just like a rain, eager to fall. Water is to her a calming potion and a license to freak out, all at once! While the rain sets her free, the ocean is her ‘security blanket’. She is in awe but also at ease with the ocean, opening up her heart to it, with complete trust. ‘He’ is her secret friend who understands her, where she can be her complete self, nothing to hide. 

At times, she is your typical teenager, now bubbly and full of hopes, now confused and ridden with doubts. She expresses anger and sadness too, about things she feels are unfair and unjust in the world. She is today’s youth – wanting equality and justice for everything and everybody.  

There is anguish of doubting or even losing the ideals she was brought upon, when the society presents contradicting situations. May be the anguish is really about the end of innocence that seems inevitable when a sweet girlhood full of hopes and ideals about a future is made to face realities which sometimes contradicts those same beliefs. She is sensitive. The tragedy of another becomes her own agony and it causes insecurity in her. She is questioning the world now, what her country is offering her, what being a girl could cost her. Yet among all these concerns and doubts there is still determination and enough ambition to strive and make her own path of success. While she likes being part of a crowd, she likes more to stand out - be one of a kind. "

Buy a copy and let her poems talk to you.

1.. www.scribd.com/book/248152675/Silence-and-Sound
2. http://www.amazon.com/Silence-Sound-Namitha-K/dp/1482840936
3. http://www.flipkart.com/search…
4. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silence-and-sou…/1120806421…
5. http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/silence-and-sound

Life and Everything Within: Too Much, Too Little

Life and Everything Within: Too Much, Too Little: Friends. Family. School.   That, is pretty much what my life revolved around. Then suddenly, BAM, school life is over and my friends...

Living and bonding like an Eagle.

 Gazing at eagles, recently reflecting on the life of an eagle, I had fascinating thoughts on them.  Eagles are magnificent birds, beautiful and powerful. They fly very high and have a rare insight to the untold sights of life. They have the longest life span in birds and to live up to that age, they have to go through a lot of pain and changing process, make hard decisions to survive in life. Their life is very motivating and  renewing their strength often to survive, is awe inspiring.

I have been thinking of an eagle's way of life, when I had to take very hard and important decisions that brought me the wrath of a close one. Like an eagle, it was a painful decision I took to go through that phase of my life, though it still pains me, I thought if that pain brings about the fulfillment of a beautiful dream, it was a risk worth taking knowing about the result of it, though  I had no other option in it. It tore me apart from inside, knowing the stand taken was a genuine one.

An Eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young ones by spreading its wings and takes them up carrying on its wings. An eagle's life is a perfect example for bonding, leading way, the aspect of teaching its young ones and flying away to grow and fend for themselves. The life of an eagle is a perfect lesson to be determined, strong willed  and perseverance to live life fully. It goes through a lot of physical pain and process of changes in order to survive. It renews its beak, feathers and talons going through a lot of pain.

When I was watching these eagles gliding through the sky and playfully flying around, I realized that to survive a positive life, I have to go through a lot of physical pains and immense mental turmoil that was inflicted due to my difficult decisions. I knew I always  had to rise like an eagle and keep renewing my strength and courage to face life's difficult situations. To move with a will that keeps me going and not weary or faint. They taught me to be a diligent seeker of positivity without any fear whatsoever.

I thought it best to give the push needed to pursue a dream and once it is fulfilled just watch them grow and soar high. Under that power of spell, step aside and stay quiet, believing in their souls as an eagle does and watch them succeed with great joy. Be there to lead them to aim high, be a guiding light but never get caged in the repercussions. Have will power, beauty and independence to gain strength on my own, follow my instincts to have a strong vision no matter what the obstacles are, remain focused and grounded.

Live like an eagle loving the storms and rise against all odds and achieve the rightful goals. It is always better to take time like an eagle and trust in your actions and other's. The eagle shows the aspect of looking after the family. Their preparation of nest shows the path to accept changes, being pricked by a thorn is a reminder that sometimes      being too comfortable with anything may result in a stagnation. I understood with pain the thorns of life are there to teach that I need to keep growing, get out and love on no matter what. It comes as a thought process that everyone has a mind of their own and it pushes me  to keep growing stronger with that perspective. When I am growing older, changes are painful and with a body growing weaker, I need a stronger will to survive against all odds and challenges that comes; I prefer defying my fate than to get caged in my turmoils. What is not in my hands cannot be helped, but leave it to time and wait patiently.


Gazing at the sky,
Eagles gliding in joy,
Chill breeze blowing on face,
Fills a yearning in my soul,
To soar high and fly.


Breaking all shackles,
That bog me down,
To a point of,
Tearing me apart,
With scars in my heart.


Mind rebels the reasoning,
Of a rebelling will,
Perseveres patiently,
With a selfless love,
That what is meant to be will be.

SILHOUETTES: From A Readers Desk..

SILHOUETTES: From A Readers Desk..: There is only one instance of a greater joy known to those who wield the pen than getting to know, what one scribbled has been able to rea...

A collage of Photographic and poetic connection.

A photograph is a poetry and there is a deep connection between the two. It is a connection to emerge at a level of mood and association with it. Poetry is sometimes a reflection of a photograph or photographic memory etched in the deep recesses of the heart.

Sometimes it is a photograph that inspired a poet to write. Both are different forms of art and it is a combination of photograph and poetry that evolves into a poetic message. The two can compliment the other. Poetry brings life into a photograph and gives a visual structure to the significance of each poem. Poetry evokes feelings and also provokes thoughts and expressions, It is a linking of the strange with an image in mind. It transforms everything through a new perspective.

Arun M Sivakrishna's book "Songs of a solitary tree," has a photographic poetry in it. His poetry makes the reader visualize a photograph in the mind. He is a creative photographer too, just like his writing skills, he has  a rare way of captioning them to make the reader think and connect.

1. http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Solitary-Tree-Grap…/…/B00PBVRG82
2.http://www.hotbooksale.com/…/Songs-of-a-Solitary-Tree-Graph…
3. http://www.foyles.co.uk/…/songs-of-a-solitary-tree-graphica…
4. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Store-Arun/s….
5. http://www.flipkart.com/songs-solitary-…/p/itmefz6hxzzhpc4b…
6. http://books.google.co.in/books…
7. https://www.scribd.com/…/Songs-of-a-Solitary-Tree-Graphical…
8.http://www.bol.com/…/songs-of-a-solitary-…/9200000035874080/
9.http://store.kobobooks.com/search…
10.http://www.barnesandnoble.co

The enticing moon over a beach.

The moon rising from the horizon is a spectacular sight that entices your senses and captivates you. It is a breathtaking sight to watch the moon rise over the horizon in a panoramic beach. The moon rises everyday at a different timing and is seen in full splendor even in the clear blue sky while the sun sets. The moon smiles whenever it is up in the sky, like a silent reminder that, "Even if you don't see me for days, I am there for you, forever." Though it is not seen for few days, as it starts waxing, it gives a sense of hope and longing to see it daily till it smiles at you in full magnificence on the full moon day.

The moon is figured in all forms of art and in literature it  depicts love and emotions in varied forms. It plays a vital role in all forms of literature. For some moon is a sign of distress, but I look out for the moon as a sign of hope and a positive aspect in life. It can  represent your emotional side and your relationship with others. They say moon is an illusion of hidden facts, but so is man, a mystery altogether.

The moon may have many unseen features. The moon's ethereal qualities  create dreamy modes and pursuit of love. The moon creates a flutter and a chain of feelings. Like the intuitive nature of the moon, you understand and nurture your emotions and feelings. The different moods of man are compared to the changing phases of the moon. The sight of full moon makes you lively with a positive feeling.

The moon has always fascinated me. I love to watch the moon wax and wane. It gives a sense of hope. Watching the moon's beam shimmering in the waters as the waves splash by, is a spectacular sight.  The silvery net the moon beams spread over the crinkling sea is a wonderful gift of nature.

The moon beams kiss the sea, 
As the waves clasp one another, 
Flings a silvered net, 
Over the crinkling sea.  
The swells of the tides, 
Like emotions on a high, 
In shimmering silvery silhouette, 
With splashing waves on a thrill, 
Twinkling joyful reflections, 
The splendor of moon, 
That completes an incompleteness of love.

The art of poetry.

Poetry is an art that gives pleasure and invites knowledge.  Thinking about poetry as a play of words in the best order giving an emotion to it, we forget to think how important its poetic and metaphoric thinking is. It is an excellent mode of writing in literature, where the euphoria of emotions are played with its poetic formation. It is a form of writing that is hard to master and we are always learning. Its practice losing further and faster.

It is a massive impression. It is an art of writing  'a captured feeling that one has experienced'. When you write it out in a beautiful verse form it goes into the heart of the reader and you know if it will succeed. It is a way of communicating with the reader. A poem takes root from emotions, objects seen, the slamming of door in everyday life, Many people try their hand at writing poetry, but very few succeed. Poems come from ordinary experiences, memories and a gesture of love. They hit when least expected.

Namitha started writing at the age of eleven. Her poems matured over the years. When poetry has taken a backstage, encourage poetry. Buy a book and see for yourself.

1.. www.scribd.com/book/248152675/Silence-and-Sound
2. http://www.amazon.com/Silence-Sound-Namitha-K/dp/1482840936
3. http://www.flipkart.com/search…
4. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silence-and-sou…/1120806421…
5. http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/silence-and-sound

My little girl.

My little girl has really grown up. Still remember her as a little bundle of joy. Today a published author of Silence & sound. A sweet little girl Who can do many things. But the thing she knows best to do is touch my heart and fill it with joy. However grown up you are, I will always remember you as my little angel. I am reminded of a poem by Nisha Sam about a little niece:
From a tiny bundle till today
I see you grow each day....
From endless cries to endless laughs
I see you glow each day.....
From the innocent questions to the incredible mischievous
I see you learn each day.....
From the little walks we have to the small talks we do...
From the kisses you plant to the crushing hugs you give....
I save the memories each day...
For one day I will have to be happy with only those memories near me
And you away from me....
For life will sure play the same game as it does every other day.....
But remember my dear, I will be there ever and forever for you as like today....
I feel proud to see her with the author's copy.
May this book be a stepping stone to many more books to come.
Grab a copy and let the poems speak for itself. 

A special thanks to Arun M Sivakrishna for the beautiful cover page click.

1.. www.scribd.com/book/248152675/Silence-and-Sound
2. http://www.amazon.com/Silence-Sound-Namitha-K/dp/1482840936
3. http://www.flipkart.com/search…
4. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silence-and-sou…/1120806421…
5. http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/silence-and-sound