Review:

Revealing an open mind and adventurous spirit

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Life after Love

Author: Muthu

Padmakumara

Pages:49

Sarasavi Publishers

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Poetry is the language of love and love is the pre-occupation of many a poet. Hence it would seem most natural for the young poetess Muthu Padmakumara to reflect on Life after Love. Nevertheless her latest poetry collection is a bit extra-ordinary for a young Sri Lankan girl. It goes beyond the superficial treatment of love that one would generally come across. It is a deeply sensuous and psychological treatment, one that pours out the innermost feelings and experiences.

It was Aristotle who said that every poet is a philosopher. Advertently or inadvertently it is the philosophy of the writer that guides the thoughts and emotions of the poet. Muthu's understanding of the complexities of human emotions finds expression in several of her poems including Hearth, Inexplicably yours and Star-crossed which says:

I never did know why

you called upon me,

never leaving my side

never taking off your eyes,

I did not understand why

You would not have the evening end,

Urging me

To hold, hold

To this moment,

You take the flowers

From my mesmerized hand, to gently kiss,

I can only look on in wonder,

Not know why

and

not understand.

Her poetry betrays an open mind and an adventurous spirit ready to plunge into the unknown.

Her ability to convey deep and diverse emotions with brevity of expression displays her clarity of thought and her maturity as a poet.

Particularly interesting is her portrayal of the feminine mind in love - so irrational, so possessive, so full of lust and so intriguing.

Life after Love is worth reading whether you are in love or whether you are after love for nobody could live without love. Excepting for one or two poems the collection is definitely extra-ordinarily entertaining. (JV)