What a Poet really is, the way S/he writes, the creative journey, places, wilderness, imagination is so well expressed in the lines like-

Hey, Kilgore, I loved the title of your book New Poet Tree “Rising from ashes”.  It sounds so spiritual and like a self-talk about dying and again rising.  It’s spiritual in the sense because it can also be linked to coming to light from darkness. A kind of an awakening!

A big applause to you for your earlier writings published through Kamini Press in Stockholm.  No wonder, you will come up with many more of them and we readers will wait to read them.  Wishing you all the very best for future.

Your book is more about you, your journey as a Poet, your aspirations, and your love for nature and wilderness.  I write this because in almost all of your poems, some or the other aspect of nature is evident; be it trees, women, paintings, etc.  Your book is an excellent example of Creativity.  The pictures that you have included amidst your poetry give the book a fresh look.  As I write this review, I imagine you sitting somewhere around the pictured tree writing poems.  I am sure, you must have.  I just loved your idea of creating a poet tree at the top of the cliffs to celebrate the peaceful feelings and creative energies that you found in your wilderness experiences.   This is the best part of your book.  Your masterstroke!

What a Poet really is, the way S/he writes, the creative journey, places, wilderness, imagination is so well expressed in the lines like-

“Poetry is don’t argue why, feel, think, write”

“Poet’s sudden inspirations after keying new poems revise, revise, revise”

Wilderness Wisdom – “Haiku poems scratched in granite berry stained words, dry autumn leaves”

Rebirth ’69 – “Early may morning, ross lake road, pictured rocks outback tabula rasa rising from campfire embers writing first poem suddenly drunken professor becoming a Poet”

Cliffs Poet – “Escaping noisy civilization enjoying solitary life, distant mountain retreats pursing creative activities”

I liked your idea of naming your poems “Untitled” which seemed very unique to me. – “Caged wild animals not roaming free bodies rotting away while zoo visitors watch something beautiful die”.  Young kids will be able to relate to your lines when they grow up.  All of us have visited zoos as children when no thought that you have written crossed our mind ever.

Untitled– “Twitching nervous ripples slight tremor inches poet suddenly wondering “is this it’ heart finally giving up clutching passing breaths life suddenly uncertain maybe only minutes left.  The last moments of life, indeed.  Good that you put in this poem, so aptly.

Well expressed Love Making in all simplicity! And the exact contrast As in Whispers – “Four in the morning after tired screams “we have to talk”

Coming of age – “Wondering what’s normal, thinking about parents, feeling increasingly certain, they were never in love”.  This is the story of every human being who explores sex out of curiosity and then questions it when it comes to parents.

The paper picture that read “We stopped at perfect place and got out of the car, the wind glanced at her hair.  It was as simple as that, I turned to say something” is just mind blowing.  This picture has added glory to the book.

Creativity– “Naked woman facing easel red hair covering breasts wet palette colors dripping from paint brush silent creative dance between Painter and canvas.  Awesome!!!  The only difference between a Poet and a Painter is that of introvert and extrovert outlook is what I think.

Ghost Women – Were the women you wrote about real or was it your imaginations? I am not able to comprehend.  You mentioned them as ghosts so either you were dreaming of them or they chased you; that is a mystery but if they were part of your life, it was a nice introduction.  Hi to the ladies from my side, yeah!

New frontier “Last Dance” “musing over Alaskan adventure new writing place finding small log cabin”.  The entire poem was truly good which expresses the entire journey of writing.

“Poet new realizing paradise doesn’t exist instead his life constantly moving away always on the way to somewhere else journey not destination …sour seeking new frontier always somewhere ahead”… these lines will stay with me; just loved them.

Your book is like a box of assorted chocolates wrapped in different colorful wrappers, garnering curiosity as one unwraps to relish them.  Yummy, delicious and lip smacking, just like chocolates.  I am sure readers will enjoy reading your journey, in your words.  As I read your poem, imagination was easy; your poems have been very relatable.  Every poem has its own diction and that’s the beauty.

Here’s wishing you all the very best and hope your poems garner all the recognition through an array of readers worldwide.  May the book travel across continents and bring you all name and fame.  Amen!!!

Dear readers, go ahead; buy the book and eat the chocolates.

Regards,

Shubhaangi Kundalkar

Author – Justaju-In Search of Life