☛ We are inviting submission in the field of literature and literary theory in the form of article, book review, poem, short story, travelogue and interview for our regular April issue (Vol. 6, No. 2). The last date for submission is 31 March, 2025.

MAN, POET, NOVELIST - Tapan Kumar Pradhan (India)

 


MAN, POET, NOVELIST

-         Tapan Kumar Pradhan (India)

 

While trying to write a novel, instead
he ended up with a poem: 

     fresh fragrance of jasmines
               colours of butterflies
     madness of the sea
               invitation of the sky

And the solitary koel’s sweet coo-coo-cooing -
can one hope to write a novel with this? 

*****  *****  *****

 

While trying to write a poem, instead
he ended up with a novel: 

     younger daughter’s marriage
               elder son’s unemployedness
     association-members’ threats
               house-owner’s notice

And the chitter-chatter litany of the same old wife -
can one hope to write poetry with this? 

*****   *****  *****

In the spinning gyre of prose and poetry
he completely forgot life: 

           mosque-mandir clashes
                    Kalahandi’s death shrieks

 

           skeletons of Nithari
                              hulla-baloo of parliament

And the soaring prices of dal, salt and rice -
           everything he did forget: 

While trying to write a novel, he became
                himself a novelette.

****