Aerogramme: Verses with a slice of life #BlogChatterEbook

About the Book:

Aerogramme is a collection of the poems that have been read in poetry groups. Blame the group members if you find these ramblings nonsensical. Written in her journal, the poems are signposts along the journey called ‘everyday’. This is an attempt to recapture the thoughts over a period of the years she lived away from home yet moved closer to it.

My Review:

As the title suggests, it is a letter sent through air mail, snaps of life and jottings of memories. It is borne of nostalgia, from reminisces of the city the author lived in and other fond memories. I have been curious about what a poetry group must be like, a community that encourages and constantly gives you the much-needed feedback on your creative works. These verses took flight in Poetry Reading sessions in Secundrabad Poetry Club, that Nivedita was a part of. She recaptures time and events over the years through poetic verses, the only way to move closer to home while living away from it.

I am drawn to spoken word poetry. I think these poems if performed by the poet herself would make more impact on the listener. While I truly enjoyed reading these, I would like to suggest her to provide her voice to these words or perform these verses, perhaps in a vlog, a recorded reading of the poems to go with the book.

‘The Sunshine Café’ was good. Loved the metaphors and the multiple interpretations that one can make here- whether it is a real café or a natural phenomenon. ‘We Never Knew’ reminded me of my own school and college life, the 90’s when life was simple, pleasures were simpler, slow was the trend and Marutis were a luxury.

Some poems have a few untranslatable regional words strewn together that gives an earthly feeling and exudes emotions of homecoming. While reading ‘The Fall’ I missed those red, orange and yellow canopy in my city along the highways in the spring season. Another poem is dedicated to migrants and refugees, those who had to leave their native land to survive and spend days in a foreign land trying to make ends meet. Emotions juxtaposed with the times.

I personally loved the poem ‘Spider Web’. One of my favorites in the compilation. It begins with the words- “The Spider Webs of our house are woven by sights, smells and sounds.” And the last closing lines too speak volumes—“These spider webs are carefully packed in our suitcase, as we move on to create a new set  of spider webs.”

The irony in “An Editor Writes” is clear. The poem’s lament is justified. “Two Cane Chairs” provide images and many thoughts cloud my mind. This poem made me ruminate the most. How everything that mattered in our lives earlier is now photoshopped.  We get a glimpse of Hyderabad through cups of Irani chai and packets of Osmania biscuits. We see the Hussain Sagar Lake, the Charminar, the Chowmahalla Palace through the words strewn together.

From the native places and letters (Aerogrammes) we move to Milwaukee, US- from the waft of spices in the kitchen to chocolate, caramel, and coffee—from Vermillion, bindi, and Kohl to constellations in a new land.  A “blend of east and west”. We meet a heart that yearns for home but finds solace in a foreign land too and makes a minuscule world tour in a jiffy through stamps.

The beauty of a poem is that it speaks differently to a different reader. We all read in between the lines what our hearts want to hear and interpret. That makes it so special.

The book can be downloaded here for FREE for a short period of time. Download and enjoy. Do mark this 'To Be Read' for future reading. 

About The Author:

Nivedita N, a Hyderabadi has taken the yatra called poetry in 2007. He journey along with walks with poetry books include conversations with her muses over cups of chai or sitting near the Hussain Sagar Lake and a rendezvous with the historical figures. She currently resides in Milwaukee where she meets her muses over Caramel Coffee during Spring and Fall and hibernates during Midwestern winters.

Her other poetry collection "Other Poems and the Rustic Goddess" also can be downloaded here.