Book ReviewUntamable
poetry
Thanuja's latest poetry collection
Akeekaru Depa
Akeekaru Depa is Thanujua Dharmapala's new collection of poetry.
Prior to this, she authored three books of poems and two works of
Russian and Arabic poetry translations (the latter from English to
Sinhala) among her number of other works of fiction for adults and
children and two collections of essays on Buddhist teachings.
This is a small introductory note on her new book Akeekaru Depa.
The poems in the book can easily be divided into two categories:
first, personal and emotive poems; second, poems with religious
sentiments.
The poems in the first category are strictly subjective and could
easily be called as 'poems for their own sake'. They are explorations of
the poet's many undefined feelings and inner musings. They may be of
love, egotism, insatiable desire for conquer and win and melancholic
feelings born out of frustration in unfulfilling of those expectations.
She uses many things and phenomena in Nature - the sky, sea, fire,
clouds, springs, sun moon and stars trees and flowers as the metaphors
conveying her conflicting feelings.
The mood of the poems is that of sorrow. They bear an undertone of a
creative woman's moan born of the realization of her state of
frustration while journeying along, carrying her fragile poetic
sentiments with which she hopes to conquer the world. She is not a
satisfied human being -humans are not, as a fact; she wants to conquer
and widen her domain. Tired of this struggle, at one stage she awaits to
be shot at (Avasan Heeya) by the hunter with the last arrow he is left
with; one could surmise the hunter as her lover. The poet's desire for
self infliction is obvious.
The poem 'Awakening' further connotes this idea. She looks at the
fire from afar, being aware that she is attracted towards it, she goes
closer with her mind made up to get consumed by the fire; this way she
feels that she becomes one with the world. Fire, metaphor of her worldly
desires.
In some poems the poet is confused over her metaphors. In one poem
the same metaphor stands for two or more different objects. The running
metaphor of 'the moon 'in the poem Keerthiya (Fame) is an example.
A poet should always be a good observer because he or she has to have
his or her facts correct on which the poem would be based. After all,
poetry writing is also a craft. In the poem Handa (voice) the poet
compares the singing of small birds with that of a peahen and she says
'the cluster of many hued feathers is too heavy for her to carry and
fly'. The poet has to get her facts correct first...Pea-hen has no
feathers to show off in dance.
The last few poems are based on some well known stories in Buddhist
literature. The poet has taken the essence of these stories and woven
them into free verse.
The long telephone conversation in four parts is an unnecessary
addition to the collection and it discredits heavily the creativity of
the poet.
On the whole Akeekaru Depa is a book the reader could enjoy. There is
beauty in these poems. They would not disturb you. (Though my sincere
belief is that a good poem disturbs the reader).
A word on the printer/publisher/and the designer of the book cover.
Nadeera Roshini Nallaperuma enters the printing and publishing arena
with Thanuja's new book.At a time when publishers in Sri Lanka are vary
of undertaking to publish poetry books,Nadeera has taken a brave step.
The finish of the book testifies to her long successful journey ahead.
- Malini Govinnage |
