“How lucky am I, the dead, for I have many friends breaking into song and dance, worshipping me, on these streets!” A poem named ‘Ghoshayatra’ by Sampreetha in her second poetry collection called Neettezhuthu concludes thus. Sampreetha’s poems fascinate, first and foremost, with their charming imageries. They succeed in bringing alive a melancholic past as well as prod us to the questions of the future. ‘Kadankatha’ is one such query, where she refers to humans settling down on faraway planets.
Many a poem in this book calls for repeated readings, for they are packed with wordplays and distinct sets of meanings. At the same time, some make themselves appealing for the sheer simplicity of words or universality of the theme. For example, ‘Jeevithapadam’ looks at some of the unique scenes of Kerala such as Thiruvathira, Vishukkani, and the raging monsoon, and wistfully wishes that if none of these are coming back, let the month of Karkkidakam, infamous for its dark and rainy days, take away this miserable life. ‘Sahanam,’ on the other hand, tells us that the earth still hangs on to life for a few impressions being left by the first drops of the summer rain. ‘Marmarangal’ is a few requests by a tree to its branch that is being cut off and is about to fall while ‘Puzhukkuthu’ takes us through the fun ride of a worm that gorges on its very home, the very earth.
‘Kshamaapanam,’ ‘Thudarcha,’ Mazhamukham,’ ‘Pradhamam,’ and ‘Neettezhuthu’ have rhythmic verses coupled with an impressive choice of words. Sampreetha’s poems do not fight the reality or arm themselves with lofty ideals. Flowers, trees, rain, sea…the ordinary, the commonplace, are dexterously moulded into inimitable art pieces that reflect the many facets of life, death, and everything in between -- all with the ease and grace possible for a female mind that never stops finding wonder from its own world and beyond.
Neettezhuthu
Sampreetha
DC Books
Rs.70
