Saturday, May 1, 2021

NILAVRONILL SHOOVRO

 


Why should we read poetry? I think primarily we can read poetry only to enjoy. But we should read poetry to establish an internal link with the world around us. Many of us believe that the main task of poetry or even literature, in general, is to reconcile us to the world. Through poetry, we can feel the essence of time and eternity. Poetry enriches our perception of life and nature. We can develop the required skill to realize anything beyond its face value. Poetry also boosts our moral strength to fight for rights, beauty, and humanity. Poetry also presents the province of imagination and the domain of love. And it unites us around the essence of life.


Many believe poetry has a distinctive role to fulfil compared with other cultural objects and experiences. It connects people’s cognitive and affective responses. It reconciles our mind and body, experiences, and memories. The contribution poetry can make to our well-being, as well as the importance of focusing on both the affective and cognitive dimensions of our engagement with poetry to enhance both appreciations of the work and personal development. By offering us an opportunity to recapitulate life as a whole connecting with time and space, poetry serves its purpose of cultivating our thinking process. So, reading poetry helps us a lot. It helps us to mature with time and experience beyond the domain of our personal life. I think this is crucial. Realizing our personal life in relation to eternal life is essential to attain a more mature view of true perspective.


Reading poetry is a way of meditation also. Although primarily we believe, it is a hobby and with time it becomes a habit. Yet poetry reading is a way of meditation to enrich ourselves to achieve the true perspective of life. And it is also only through poetry reading that we can get in touch with the various literary traditions and heritages. This experience helps us a lot to develop a world view in our realization of the world and life. This realization of the world view brings us closer to each other. At present we need to march forward at a great pace toward this direction. It’ll minimize the risk of confrontation among various races and nationalities. Thus, it may work positively to reduce conflicts through developing the essence of a unified humanity.


We can also say, reading poetry helps us a lot to work toward unifying humanity around the world. It will directly work to resist the world views of competition among political and corporate rivalries. These rivalries have divided the world into various sections of conflicting interests. The purpose of reading poetry can positively help us to evolve through co-operation instead of competition. So, one can easily say, reading poetry can unify the world towards humanity instead of dividing human civilization into confronting sections. This is the most important social role of reading poetry in our life.


So, it is not true that we should read poetry only for a personal pleaser. We should go on reading poetry to derive the pleaser of unifying with all. Poetry can sanctify our souls as well as our minds and purifies our hearts. Without which we can never communicate with our surroundings to achieve a unified state of existence. Poetry teaches us that we can never live disconnected from our time and universal soul. It helps us to gain those important insights to chose the right path to follow in our own life. Again, this road will lead us to fulfill our life among all others with true humility.


I do believe we at Our Poetry Archive are fulfilling this role of spreading awareness throughout the world. Reading, reading, and reading poetry can make us truly human. So, our goal is to provide the quality materials to serve this purpose. Since April 2015 we are working on this plan to cater with the best materials of available poetical creations to the readers around the world. Since then, we have published 74 monthly volumes of poetry collections and six annual anthologies of world poetry. Also, we have arranged the publication of the 7th volume of the annual anthology scheduled to be published this July 2021. Anyone can still participate in this upcoming OPA annual anthology of poetry 2021. This year the theme is ‘Midnight Moments’. We invite three poems written only on this particular theme to submit along with the recent profile picture of the author and a short Bio of around 300 words written only in 3rd person narrative. The submission address only for the poems written on the theme, “Midnight Moments” is opa.anthology@gmail.com and the last date of submission has been extended to 30th May 2021.


We would like to remind our readers and poets that the address for the monthly submissions of poetry is: ourpoetryarchive@gmail.com We hope this issue will also get your attention with much enthusiasm. This month we are presenting poet Monica Maartens of South Africa as the poet of the month. Poet Anca Mihaela Bruma of Italy has taken an interview of the poet exclusively for our readers.


NilavroNill Shoovro

From The Editorial Desk

OPA

A

WORLDWIDE WRITERS’ WEB

PRESENTATION!

 

PUBLISHED BY

 

OPA

 

OUR

POETRY ARCHIVE

ONLINE MONTHLY POETRY JOURNAL

https://ourpoetryarchive.blogspot.com

email us to:

ourpoetryarchive@gmail.com

**************************************

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA TALKING WITH MONICA MAARTENS

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA TALKING WITH

POET OF THE MONTH

MONICA MAARTENS

MAY 2021


ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: Do you come from a literary background?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   No, I do not come from a literary background.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: What inspired you to start writing?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   I went to live with the homeless on the streets to teach them how to survive without begging, by converting others trash into something pretty or useable and added short poems to the articles to make it more interesting and saleable.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: What writers did you enjoy reading as a child?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   Enid Blydton

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   None, as I cannot afford it and I care for my elderly mother which makes it impossible to travel.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: How did you get started as a poet?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   By entering a poetry contest with Poetry Planet and winning, which inspired me to continue on this journey.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: How do your poems develop? Please guide us through the stages of a poem!

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   A thought leads into emotions which become a story or message concluding with a solution to a problem.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   Truth, good useage of language and interesting topics pertaining to life.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: What is the most difficult part about writing for you?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   Finding the right words to express emotions.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: How did you manage to fit writing in with other demands on your time? Are you good at managing your time?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   I set aside time early in the morning and after work, when I have completed my chores for the day. I am reasonably good at keeping to it.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA:  Who are your favourite living poets?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:  I enjoy many poets in the groups I am involved with, too many to mention individually.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA:  How did you first get published?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:  Through Real Vision Publication by Colin Hill who published "Let's go all Platinum".

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: Have you ever had a work rejected?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:  No

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: Can you give any advice to someone wanting to write and publish poetry?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:  I suggest they allow their words to flow like waves of the ocean...

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: What is the imagery or mood in your poem?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:  it varies according to the topic or message which I wish to convey.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA:  What are the structural or stylistic techniques you use in your poetry?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:  I mostly use rhyme at the end of lines, but this too varies according to the mood and message of the poem...whether it is serious or light hearted, spiritual or romantic…

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: What's the worst advice you hear authors give writers?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:  That anything goes.improper use of language reads with difficulty and should not be encouraged.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: What does success mean to you? What is the definition of success?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   Success to me means being happy and contented in what you do. The satisfaction of completing a poem and sharing something worthy with the world.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: How do you handle literary criticism?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   Criticism is very valuable, as it opens ones mind to new ways of thinking and seeing things, which you may never have considered if someone didn't bring it  to your attention.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   Yes, I am currently working on "LifeQuotes" which I plan to put together in a book as soon as I have the opportunity.

 

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: If you had to describe yourself as a writer in three words, what would they be?

 

MONICA MAARTENS:   Spiritual, emotional and creational.

 

MONICA MAARTENS: South African born poetess and writer, using the penname "Zararia Yul" meaning "brightness of dawn river beyond the horizon". Nature lover and deeply involved with the spiritual side of life and existence of all creation working together in unity, sharing the same essence of life, manifested in different physical bodies, shapes and sizes.

 

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA

ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: Educator, lecturer, performance poet, eclectic thinker, mentor with staunch multi-cultural mindset and entrepreneurial attitude, Anca Mihaela Bruma considers herself a global citizen, having lived in four continents. Her eclecticism can be seen in her intertwined studies, she pursued: a Bachelor of Arts (Romania) and a Master of Business Administration (Australia). The author labels her own writings as being “mystically sensual”, a tool and path for women to claim their own inner feminine powers. She uses poetics as a form of literary education, self-discovery and social.

 

MONICA MAARTENS


 

MONICA MAARTENS

 

If I Can't Help

 

Can you hear the cries of the fallen skies,

can you feel the sighs of deceitful lies,

can you carry the chains of sorrowful pains,

can you swallow the vomit of sloppy revenge.

 

Can you live with yourself after breaking your friend,

selling out family around every bend,

breathing in fear as darkness descends,

drawing away from all that offends.

 

Can you run from the sneers and all the tears,

can you hide from the jeers of all the peers,

can you conquer the battle from cages that rattle,

can you clearly see to set yourself free.

 

So many traps and so many shares,

so many worries and so many cares,

if I can't help, then why am I here,

why should I always be living in fear.

Zararia Yul © Copyright

 

 

 

S.O.S.

 

When you can't feel beyond the pain in your heart,

when you can't see beyond the tears that rip apart,

when pain deep inside is so bad you can't breathe,

and sorrow turns to anger and rage that will seethe.

 

Drowning in anguish which you cannot treat,

falling around in a game you cannot beat,

finding no man that will stand by your side,

having no place you can run and hide.

 

Helpless and broken in a cruel harsh world,

where lies steal truth as they're twirled and swirled,

hope lays shattered on paths that are lost,

happiness and sanity the terrible cost.

 

For every step we take there's a price to pay,

nothing is for free no matter what they say,

but ...the Spirit calls us with an S.O.S.

lifting us out of our physical mess.

 

Time to connect to our Godly divinity,

returning home to our sacred serenity.

Zararia Yul © Copyright

 

 

 

Maze Of Life

 

Temptations shine like shimmering jewels,

igniting desire with passionate fuels,

choices take us left or right,

into journeys dark or bright,

maze of life has many crossroads,

hidden and shrouded in secret codes,

all seems so beautiful and true and clear,

until it swallows all we hold dear.

 

When reaching crossroads we need to decide,

never to do anything we must hide,

always live in the open for all to see,

is the safest passage on which to be,

when held at ransom throw it into bright light,

expose it all to vision and sight,

take the path that holds no secrets,

then spiral upwards with no regrets.

Zararia Yul © Copyright

 

 

 

Erotic Memories

 

Twinkling stars spinning webs,

moonlight casting out it's nets,

lures awaken lusty passions,

tittilating deep sensations,

midnight moments wink and smile,

casting cares away awhile,

sweet surrender so divine,

entwined together so sublime,

silken hugs in joyful splendour,

velvet skin so warm and tender,

lovers quest for deep fulfillment,

soul and body in perfect agreement,

twinkling stars in total alignment,

shining down upon their assignment,

midnight moments caught in time,

erotic memories in their prime.

Zararia Yul © Copyright

 

 

 

Teenage Surrender

 

Innocent and sweet so pure and complete,

teenage love as free as a dove,

blushing faces woven in graces,

beating hearts aflame with sparks,

breathless moments shimmering like diamonds,

winking eyes that brighten skies,

secret glances that enhances,

magical dreams of kings and queens.

 

Glamour and glimmer in veils that shimmer,

glittering rings and wonderful things,

joyful sensation fueling elation,

carefree passion full in fashion,

first little kiss such heavenly bliss,

sweet surrender ever so tender,

teenage love as free as a dove,

reaching skies where passion flies.

 

Zararia Yul © Copyright

 

MONICA MAARTENS

 

ANURADHA BHATTACHARYYA

 


ANURADHA BHATTACHARYYA

 

The Quiet

 

We have become very quiet.

Maybe we loved to stir up the air with our voices

Words intermingled with bacteria

And we threw up venom whenever we felt like.

 

But these days we have learned to be quiet.

The lips are shuttered with a black strip of cloth

That reminds us not to argue, not to spit,

Not to bargain with the vendor at the door

Certainly not to curse a fellow human.

 

Our hearts, on the contrary, have become loud.

What our hearts say only the body can hear

Only the little movements of our fingers respond to.

 

The growl of the tummy has become louder.

The service we get from the stores daily

Satisfy our daily needs bordering on the few.

 

Surely we had failed,

Failed to be quiet about us,

Failed to restrain our interference…

 

We had fostered the necessity of our movements

Harming the earth, the sky and most of humanity.

 

 

 

Car Pool

 

“Man proposes, God disposes” – proverb

 

Cries of warning

On climate change

Have resounded through the alleys

Every hour; every balcony

Flagged the alarm

And conference rooms echoed

With suggestions

On how to control

The use of petroleum.

The ozone layer

Which had been growing a hole

For the past 30 years or so

Frightened the man of intellect

Into hollering for

Alternative sources of energy

To fuel our work

To fuel our desire to roam the earth

As our most prized possession.

And yet with more toxic emissions

We lived happily

Ignoring all cries of warning

As if our multistorey buildings

Were just labyrinths

Under the ground.

We had hoped for saving

The lessening fuel

By carpooling

And by electric driven freights.

But such is the doldrums we are in

That the new norm

Is to drive through

The blaze of the virus

In fewer numbers

Sitting far apart

In a car

And not use electric trains at all.

 

 

Death

 

Somehow it is always he

Who ends the show.

Somehow the little acts of kindness

Decide how he would enter the stage.

The vast land that we inhabit

Belongs to so many companions.

Somehow it is always we

Who bury and mourn the dead.

 

The eagle soars in the sky

As long as he can and then drops dead.

The four metre long python

Changes and charges afresh till it starves to death.

We don’t starve, we’re well provided,

Provided in the community’s interest.

But somehow we always seem to find

A way to invite death.

 

Our little acts of mercy

Prepare us to receive him well.

One small mistake enrages him

And he comes out of turn.

We have always had a shared harmony

With family and friends.

Unfortunate were only those

Whose death defeated all good intent.

 

ANURADHA BHATTACHARYYA

 

Dr. ANURADHA BHATTACHARYYA: is author of four books of poetry, four novels, two academic books and winner of 5 prestigious awards in the field of literature including the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Book of the years 2016 and 2019. She was one of the four jury members in the Lit Digital Awards 2020, India. She is an Associate Professor of English in a government college, Chandigarh.