POEMS: 4.5/5
SUBJECT: 4/5
RHYTHM AND RELATABILITY: 4.5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
THEMES: Self-Reflection, Healing
Those who love poetry know there is a certain charm in it. They know that within a few carefully chosen words hides an ocean of emotions, a galaxy of feelings.
Poetry is deeply personal and subjective too. People read and understand it according to their own version of life; they interpret and absorb it according to their own understanding of the world.
Previously, I have had the pleasure of reading poet Nishant Gang’s poetry collection, Episodic Poetry, which I thoroughly loved. Just like his previous book, his most recent collection of poems, titled It Happens, also found a way into my heart.
What is the book all about?
While we are always trying to live our regular lives, trying to survive or just float by, we are often overwhelmed by the many emotions, occurrences, experiences, and challenges in our day-to-day lives. So much so that we forget to look at the larger picture; we forget to take a macro look. It is at these times that life often becomes difficult to comprehend.
It Happens tells you how to make life simple by asking you to zone out and look at the grander scheme of things. It reminds you that often things don’t go as planned or go out of our hands, and that it’s normal – It Happens. Stress, anxiety, fear, failure, overthinking – they happen, and it is perfectly normal. We just need to change our perspective and look at them in a different way.
The way it is planned
The book is a collection of fifty poems, or “happenings” as the poet addresses them. Each of these is relatable, and reflective, and comes with beautiful illustrations on the accompanying page. They also carry a deep message with the aim of helping the reader in some way or another.
What did I love?
What I love about It Happens is its variety: variety in the subject, in the message, and in the communication of emotions.
My favourites in the lot
Though most of the poems are beautiful in their own way, some of them obviously appealed to me a little more than the others. In the following paragraphs, I discuss a few of them.
Wrong Route, Right Whereabout
Just take a look at these verses and you will understand why this poem appeals to me so much.
“Some take shorter paths, some explore,
The world is round for a reason
And of that I am sure.
Taking a wrong route isn’t treason,
Wonder why wander excites.”
The play of words, the message, the relatability—everything in this poem whispers of beauty. It tells us that while some paths may appear wrong, eventually many of them turn out to be blessings. So don’t be afraid to wander; you may find more than what you were looking for.
Broken
“Broken but yet to be shattered; Yet, I do say.
The more I try for my ambitions they penalize the audacity.
Yet, once again, I try to walk my preferred way
For I see a beautiful future in my vicinity.”
This poem reminds us that we are not really failures until we truly believe it. We may face struggles, challenges, and issues along the way, but as long as our eyes remain on the prize, we will never be shattered.
Calculations
“Thoughts are just like numbers,
When one finishes, I find another one to write.
Blessed are we to be wanderers.
Imagine a world with finite choices,
Repeating thought pattern with only 10 voices.”
This poem is also so true and relatable. The beauty in these words lies in how they aptly convey these ‘happenings’.
In the end
It Happens is like a warm blanket that caresses you on cold, lonely nights. It is like the familiar scent of your favourite candle, like the soothing balm that calms your nerves. It is a book that calls you to be practical while also honouring the emotional side of you. It is dreamy, reflective, and personal, and highly recommended to poetry lovers.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of It Happens using the link below.
