Poems are not just a combination of words and emotions. There is more to it. Poems by any experienced poet reflect culture, civilization, language, religion, and the values of any society. When I talk about society, the poet I have read recently, Ramchandran Rajasekharan, has spent more than 60 years understanding the culture, nature, surroundings, life in life and gaining knowledge about it. In the sixties’ of his life, he decided to write poetry; too late but certainly not too little! He has come up with his very first poetry collection Dewdrops and Banyan Tree. His vast knowledge and rich experience are very much visible in his poems. His poetry flows like a stream – free and with power. It goes on satisfying your reading urge and filling you with many emotions and compelling you to contemplate what you read in his book. 

There are fifty poems in the collection. Almost all the poems are short in length, with a few exceptions that stretch beyond a page. The pomes, despite their length, leave a profound impact on you. The poet seems to be saying something authentic about the experience of being human. He writes about looking around and beholding the beauty. He shares his joy in the form of beauty that lies in every moment, all around us. He opines about the state of hopelessness to the dawn that is still young, giving hope to transform the state of confusion into new possibilities. The poet celebrates the nostalgia of his childhood. Next moment, the poet discusses enjoying what’s around rather than lamenting for what has already gone. Dewdrop and Banyan Tree, as a poetry collection, permeates graver thoughts, philosophy and perspectives that many of the contemporary poets easily ignore. 

The poems of Rajshekharan are simple. Simple in terms of ideas, language, words, description and flow. You only need to start reading. The poems in the book will automatically catch your attention without taking much time. Isn’t it exciting? Every poem in this collection reminded me of the phrase: beauty lies in simplicity. It perfectly goes with R Rajasekharan’s book. The readers will find behind the layers of simplicity thoughts, emotions and concepts that add weight to the poems. As you fascinate yourself with the poems, they would offer different perspectives and ideas to think. The way Rajshekharan has woven emotions and thoughts about life into poetry emphatically reflects his love for life and poetry.

In the end, this collection seems so short to me. I wanted it a little more. The poem that also features in the title of this book, Dewdrop and Banyan Tree, made me feel sad. This poem pushed me into a sudden contemplation. Instead of making it fruitful, how we are wasting our lives in complaining, competing with others, thinking and not doing anything at all! The poem Calm Mind filled me with the fragrance of Thechi flowers. The success that we get by hard work has its value. It is what I learnt from Lake and the Lesson of Life. And Krishna, it steals my heart! What should I say now? You will find so many moments of sheer joy as you read this poetry collection. Yes, at times, you might feel like being dubbed with a few repetitive themes. Don’t panic. The poems are all new, one after another. The world is too small to be big in terms of ideas. Recommended – and do read it! 

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Review by Nidhi for Active Reader