POEMS: 4.5/5 THEME: 4/5 RHYTHM AND RELATABILITY: 4.5/5 OVERALL: 4.5/5
“ In the corner of the place,
I spent most of my time,
stood a peacemaker, all quiet…”
– Nishant Gang, Episodic Poetry
My musings
It’s been quite some time that I last picked up poetry. I read Waves, Sand, and Magic by Neerja Kona at the beginning of this year, and ever since then, it’s been a dry spell. Poetry is therapeutic and sometimes rebellious; sometimes it brings joy and sometimes it reminds one of pain.
When I picked up Episodic Poetry by Nishant Gang, I didn’t know what to expect. But now that I am done reading it, I am glad to have come across the book. For it turned out to be one of my favorite poetry collections in recent years. Read on to know more.
What the book is all about?
Episodic poetry is a collection of 49 short poems and one thought, all of which are infused with much emotions and creativity.
The varied themes
Many poems talk about nature and its subtle beauty. There are poems about enlightening nights and living plants. Some others talk about values and virtues and have themes that are sometimes deep and sometimes whimsical.
Some others speak of things and objects. For example, The Coveted Coat is about a splendid-looking coat that hangs beside the door and is coveted by all members of the family. Other poems about objects include Sunlight and Shoe Laces.
Some others speak of human nature and tendencies. They talk of pain, and of love and emotions that transcend time and distance. They talk of love that manifests in all forms and not just one that occurs between a man and a woman. For example, Candlelight is about the constant, persisting, and guiding love of a mother.
Other poems touch upon many contemporary and relatable themes and topics. From navigating modern life to reminiscing about the carefree childhood days, from the many challenges of love to surviving fear and appreciating the importance of darkness in one’s life.
From making anxious and hard choices to selectively recalling memories – the poems talk about things that we all do and that we can easily relate to.
In other words, Nishant’s poems talk about the very essence of being human.
Some poems that touched my heart
Sense is a thoughtful poem that speaks of the world that we live in. A world where chivalry is unique and profanity is the norm; a world where fraudulent men rule honest ones, a world where materialism scores over humanity, a world where certain things just don’t make sense but are still considered okay.
Rerouting is yet another piece that captures the essence of today’s living. It thoughtfully explores why so many of us, even after achieving everything that we wanted, are still unhappy and longing, are still unsatisfied.
Another beautiful poem is called Peacemaker. One particular line from the poem – ‘a small plant helped me in living‘ spoke to me in more ways than I could possibly express in words. In those few lines, I found unfathomable joy, for it’s a love that I feel too. A love that is sometimes overwhelming but at others, just a benign presence. A love that gives solace and blesses with its beauty and abundance.
Unfinished makes you reflect upon the many paradoxes of life. What happens when you have finished achieving all the goals that you had set for yourself. What happens next? Would you really want to achieve everything and then live a life without dreams and goals, and embrace the nothingness that comes next? Or would you rather remain unfinished? This one surely leaves you with a lot to ponder upon.
A Mad Legend will make a lot of sense to those who always strive to move ahead in life, and those who always aim for the sky. The below lines made a lasting impression on my mind.
“Mad while he lived,
Legend after he left.
Not an easy life to live,
But perhaps the best.”
How to make the most of the experience?
There is philosophy and also beauty in these poems. And I reckon, the best way to read them is to read them slowly, contemplating about them late in the night or pondering over them over a cup of coffee on a cozy rainy evening.
Immerse yourself in their meaning, ponder over all the things they could possibly mean. Don’t be bound by what you know and believe, but let your mind wander free till it visualizes the poems for you. For it is then, that you will be able to make the most of this experience.
What did I like?
I love how there is a poem for every mood and every occasion. Also, there are poems that make you change your opinion on certain things. When I first started reading the poem called Distractions, I thought I knew where it was heading, for I have distractions too. And I sometimes hate myself for letting these distractions affect my focus at work.
But then the poem made me realize that these are small things that bring us joy in our day-to-day lives. The whisperings of the wind, the rhythmic dancing of clouds, the song of rustling leaves, and the symphony of the rain – these are distractions I get to witness every day. These are distractions that make me happy every day.
What I found missing?
When it comes to poetry and nonfiction, I always look for an author’s note as it enables the reader in me to understand the author and his mind, his thought process, his ideas, and the varied reasons for writing the book.
An intro or an author’s note serves as a bridge between the poet/writer and the reader. It is like an intimate conversation between the two that enables one to personally know the poet, even if that means knowing just a small part of him. Because in Episodic Poetry, after the acknowledgment, we directly move on to the poems, I found this connection to be missing.
Emotions abound
The author understands emotions in a way very few do. Through his words, he is able to showcase his ability to see and appreciate the beauty that lies within the most mundane and ordinary of things. I also love how he parts with the reader on a simple and sweet note –
“Dusk is always the darkest,
But night is where moon shines.
Let us part ways for now,
my words too do not stay as mine”
In the end
In the end, the poems in Episodic Poetry teach you a thing or two about life, love, legacy, dreams, aspirations, humility, and the world that we inhabit. They also make us aware of our own insignificant existence in the larger scheme of things.
Final verdict
Go for it!
Pick the book if
- You enjoy poetry.
- You love poetry that is intense, deep, emotional, and profound.
- You enjoy poetry that makes you ponder.
- You are looking for a short read.
Skip the book if
- I can’t think of a reason to not read this beautiful book.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of Episodic Poetry using the link below.
