In On Learning the Arcane Fact, he lets out some secrets of the reptile kingdom which is interesting.

After going through this book, Readers, I am sure, will definitely agree that David has written his poetry in all honesty.  The title of the book is so apt because he has confessed on all the areas for which he is guilty in life,   “I am guilty of nothing but loving you” as in Confession.  You will get to also feel his stark contrasting words in his Apology, “I don’t apologize for something I meant when I said it but please accept this apology for never saying I’m sorry”.  

His poetry gives a feel that he is a thorough family man because of his writings relate to his family either alive or no more.  His words in Prodigal Brother, “Something I don’t do much these days.  Before I left, I thumbtacked the photos under the rosary with its blemishes and said, Sister, I wish I’d known you better” lets out his pain and agony of losing his Sister.  Similarly, in Leo, “The blessed of the eight children.  He must have told himself not to breathe before entering this world, escaping my fortune and fate, the first in the family”, David is just trying to understand and feel if only Leo was around.  My Mother’s Decision, where he describes his childhood and the aftermath he faced from his father on his offenses.  In Respect, “Why did I work so long for my father? I remained at the station to earn money to publish a literary magazine, write poems about life.  About how respect is earned by a father from his son, respect that’s not innate as an Adam’s apple and respect for a child whose original sin is to be the son of a father who tries the best he can with a broken spirit which isn’t enough. It’s never enough”  As in Selective Memory, “I chose not to raise children, fearing I’d make mistakes molding a son who’d break my heart like I shattered my father’s.  I wasn’t a bad kid, I wasn’t a good kid.  My father, he once said, Son, I love you. I think I loved my father”.  Never come across anything like this! 

Like his family, he also mourns the passing away of some Poets as in Goodbye Mr Merwin, “Now that you have journeyed to a new world and grief for the loss of your light lingers this dying globe is darker”.  He expresses his passion for reading Mr Merwin’s book and how he was like a small part of the Author’s life, and Elegy for a Poet Whose Entire Oeuvre I’ve Read Since His Death, “I missed too many gems in the necklace but now I thank you for those rivers (poems) of diamonds that will flow forever” 

“Whatever it is, I want to write the perfect poem on some moon bitten night, I want it to escape my psyche and impress the woman in the red dress so she’ll pronounce it a perfect poem, more perfect than a tuxedo” as in The Perfect Poem speaks about every Poet’s experience on writing poetry, as well as aspiration of impressing their love.  “I disagree . Beautiful Poetry is a super Model, a savior, but not some snooty, distant catwalker”.  What an exemplary statement this is! 

“On some nights in Autumn, I gaze over the fence between twilight and midnight winds blow at storm speed, rain pours like tiny parachutes, and I see Elena, hear her husky voice where the willow died: Don’t let the bastards win!”.  He is talking of the woman he fell in love with but who is no more around. 

In On Learning the Arcane Fact, he lets out some secrets of the reptile kingdom which is interesting.  Voltaire and the Literary Guerillas for Joan Colby, this  prose-like writing is very long and I found it very unique. 

Amazing and Awesome: A Brief History, and Grammarians where he has explained the nuances in Grammar, I loved his humor in these writings.  Walking in the Rain I listen to Desolation Row, “With my black umbrella above me of course, the virus might fall from the sky”.  Corona is scary!!! 

In his Contributor’s Note, “Better are sour grapes/than an empty wine bottle/or no grapes at all”.  Loved this line and it will stay with me for long.  As we applaud for many of his poems appearing in various publications, we also wish that his collection receives love and recognition from the Readers worldwide.    David, Readers are sure that you will bring in many more accolades for your wonderful expressions.  

This book is not limited to any particular topic; he has though very artistically expressed random thoughts on varied topics which will definitely make it worth reading.  Here’s wishing you all the very best for future endeavors and may your book bring you all the praise and fame as a prolific Writer.

Regards, 

Shubhaangi Kundalkar

Author-In Search of Life