March 21, 2014 - World Poetry day

Today is World Poetry Day. Like I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I hadn't really explored the genre, but I'm a convert now. I love poetry and will continue to read it at every opportunity I have. Today is world poetry day and I couldn't have found a better day to dedicate this post to my father.

On this day, I fondly recall those days of my childhood when I used to come home after enrolling in a poetry or essay or oratory competition at school and didn't have to worry a zilch of how I would prepare for the contest and all I had do was tell my father! I used to constantly nag him until he sat down and wrote it down for me. He pulls my leg even today recalling those incidents after so many years about how I won't let him sleep until my task was done. His passion for poetry is really contagious that in the process of memorizing his poems/words for my contests, I have many a times felt inspired and re-energized by them. Poems are a great source of energy for me during tough times and nothing else gives me peace of mind. Here's two of my father's favorite English and Tamizh poems:

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. 

_______________________________________________________________________________

மனதி லுறுதி வேண்டும்.
வாக்கினி லேயினிமை வேண்டும்;
நினைவு நல்லது வேண்டும்,
நெருங்கின பொருள் கைப்பட வேண்டும்;
கனவு மெய்ப்பட வேண்டும்,
கைவசமாவது விரைவில் வேண்டும்;
தனமும் இன்பமும் வேண்டும்,
தரணியிலே பெருமை வேண்டும்
கண் திறந்திட வேண்டும்,
காரியத்தி லுறுதி வேண்டும்.
பெண் விடுதலை வேண்டும்.
பெரிய கடவுள் காக்க வேண்டும்;
மண்பயனுற வேண்டும்,
வாகனமிங்கு தென்பட வேண்டும்.
உண்மை நின்றிட வேண்டும்.
ஓம் ஓம் ஓம் ஓம்.

   
    - Mahakavi Subrahmanya Bharathiyar

Where the sidewalk ends

Book: Where the sidewalk ends
Author and Illustrator: Shel Silverstein
Genre: Poetry

An adorable collection of poems and drawings that is funny, thought-provoking, silly, cute, naughty and so much more. Shel Silverstein is a master when it comes to writing poetry for kids and this one is sure to win the heart of any kid. This is a perfect book for kids that let their imagination run wild, and Shel's illustrations add so much meaning to the words. The pictures themselves are so funny and cute! You'll get to meet an acrobat, a boy turning into a TV, a girl who eats a whale, holidays, a snowman, a boy trying to sell his little sister and a crocodile who goes to a dentist - all with a subtle message at the end of every poem.

  
(Drawing for Jimmy jet and his TV set)

It is a collection of poems even the adults will enjoy and has something for all of us to learn and laugh about. When I started reading the whole poetry genre, I wasn't quite sure I'd like it. But when I read the first few poems in this book, I was taken back to my childhood days and the carefree life of a kid! The poems bring back a lot of memories and the naughty pranks that we have all gone through. I wish I read this book when I was a child. My 3-year old daughter enjoyed quite a few of the poems and all the drawings cracked her up totally. Some of her favorite poems include "Jimmy jet and his TV set", "Warning", "Ourchestra", "Snowman" and "Hug-o-War". There are all kinds of poems, some of them are very reassuring, some are just plain silly and some send a message across in a very nice way. To put it short, this is a perfect package for every age, sure to lift you up even on the gloomiest of days! I loved reading every single poem and can't wait to read it with my daughter when she grows up. If you have kids, take this opportunity to get them this book and read-along, rest assured the reading session will turn into a total gigglefest. There is no limit to a child's imagination and Shel's drawings and poems takes them to the perfect place where the sidewalk ends and the street begins. This is one to buy for sure and savor for sure! Don't miss it!

Phenomenal Woman

I haven't read very many poetry books so far, all my exposure to poetry is through my father who loves poetry - both Tamil and English. He can recite a poem with so much ease like its the back of his hand. His words of encouragement and support during my tough times were always lines from his favorite poems and poets - Bharathiyar kavidhaigal, Kannadasan, Robert Frost. Who can forget those famous lines:

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep"

which instantly perks anyone up. But apart from that, I haven't really focused much on reading poetry until now. February and March are poetry-reading months in the reading challenge I'm signed up for and all I can say is, I never realized how beautiful poetry is. I started the poetry reading with this wonderful book by Maya Angelou - Phenomenal Woman.

Phenomenal Woman - Four poems celebrating women
Author: Maya Angelou

Phenomenal Woman:

---------------------------

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,   

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.   

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.   

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,   

And the flash of my teeth,   

The swing in my waist,   

And the joy in my feet.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,   

They say they still can’t see.   

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,   

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.   

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,   

The bend of my hair,   

the palm of my hand,   

The need for my care.   

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

This is a wonderful poem by Maya Angelou that celebrates womanhood and the inner-beauty of

every woman out there in this world. This poem was first published in 1978, so its quite

contemporary in that sense. This is a very powerful poem that is written in defense of a woman 

(especially African-American woman) who is neglected by the society based on race/color.
Maya Angelou has also derived from her own personal painful past experiences and
despite the abuse, torture and neglect she experienced, it shows how a woman still rises with
self-esteem and inner strength. This poem instantly strikes a chord with any woman who has
faced any sort of discrimination and neglect in the past. It is very inspiring and is a
shout-out that beauty is not just physical, but a lot of other things within a person and
no matter what happens, keeping your head up high is the most important thing.
After reading this, I listened to Maya Angelou recite this poem herself with a calm,
clear and a strong voice. I could feel the frustration and anger in her voice against the
society who try to shake a woman's self-confidence and strength. At the end of each part
of the poem when she says "Phenomenal woman, That's me" I felt elated.
This is my first of Maya Angelou's poems and I am a big fan of her already!
Phenomenal Woman is a collection of four poems and I enjoyed reading each and
every one of them. My favorites are "Phenomenal Woman" and "Still I rise".
A great set of poems with an inspirational message!