Ranaweera: A traditional poet

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

The Daily News met poet Ariyawansa Ranaweera, a poet steeped in rich tradition, at his residence to discuss his life and pursuits.

Q. Is your poetry more Oriental or Western?"

A. For any poet to write poetry in a way it should be based on your own traditions. You cannot escape from your own traditions when you do any sort of creation. It is said "you are rooted in the soil of the country but your growth is open to the Universe". My poetry is rooted in my own poetic tradition but then the influences of Western, Chinese and Japanese poetry is evident in my poetry.

Q From where do you get your inspiration?

A. Inspiration is a thing that you cannot say you get it from anywhere. Inspiration is the driving force which leads to any creation. Inspiration is a thing that most of the critics and philosophers have tried to explain. They have not been completely successful in explaining what inspiration is. It is a driving force which is nurtured by one's own innate capability and also what one has associated by reading seeing and observing the world. It is a cumulative force.

Q. When did you start writing poetry?

A. Actually I started writing poetry in 1984 at the age of 40. Before that, although I was associating myself with poetry and other sort of creations I never put my hand on writing poetry itself. It took 40 years for me to put pen to paper. That is something rather different compared to most of the other writers who start writing at the age of 20 or 30.

I was at the University in the 1960's. That was where I was exposed Western and Japanese poetry.

My first exposure to poetry was when I was at school. For O/levels and A/levels they had recommended certain poetry books for the exam. That is where any Sri Lankan person gets his first exposure to poetry - at the school level. That is where you are grounded in your own traditions.

When I entered University I had the good opportunity of finding the world of Eliot and Ezra pound and also Chinese and Japanese poetry.

Q. How many poems have you published? Which is your favorite and why?

A. I have published 14 poetry books but it is difficult to say which is my favourite. A father loves all his children the same. So even a creation is like one of your children. In those 14 poems there are 1000 odd poems.

Q What are the themes you write under?

A. I do not restrict myself to one or two themes. I even get inspiration from very small objects. Perhaps a blade of grass or an ant hill. These objects are only metaphors. If you ask me what the theme of my poetry is; it is mankind, it is life, human life. The human condition, the world the universe.

Q. Do you feel your childhood experiences have a big impact in your poetry?

A. Certainly. I studied in a remote school in a rather for off place. It is a place of scenic beauty. The Maha Oya flows down that valley. There are so many hills surrounding that area and the tea estates. The rural serenity would have influenced my poetry. The tranquil environment that quiet life would have been some force of influence for my poetry.

Q. What is your message to aspiring poets?

A. Don't rush in to writing poetry. Allow your intuition and inspiration to tell you, this is time to write poetry. In the meantime associate as much as possible with human knowledge. Essentially read philosophy both Western and Eastern. Knowledge of all the religions is very important. This amalgamation of creativity is a wonderful force.