Voice of the Soul: Book Review by Asha Seth

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Author: Shreyans Kanswa| Genre: Poetry | Pages: 120

The poems are experiences that the poet shares with the world and these experiences are nothing fancy- they are all moments that the poet experiences with himself. They are questions born out of inquisitiveness and self-introspection.

Reading ‘Voice of the Soul’ had me charged up with an altogether different experience. I was in the middle of a crowded early morning train on my way to work. After the initial verses, the environs around me started to change.

Suddenly, I started to wish that I was not being squeezed on both my sides by commuters, but sitting idle in a chair or perhaps, lounging by the window side. I wanted a view of rains to drape my somber mood rather than of unknown faces lost in oblivion. I wished I could have the wind rustling in my ears and flush out the bee-buzzing conversations around.

Through most part, this book had a profound effect on me. I was transported to a different place where it was just me, nestled in the lap of nature, reading the author’s musings on trees, winds, nature, mother earth, rains, etc or sometimes wistfully reminiscing soaked into his words on lovers, love, separation, etc.

The Review:

On the surface, this book is just the voice of his soul, but if you care to dive into the calm and swim through the ripples of his moods, you shall know it is a mine that holds together his eager curiosity under layers of lackadaisical introspection laced with careful observation. Things we have all gone through but never considered them in the same light.

Simplicity is what his words and thoughts are all about. But then, marring the reading experience is the rampant usage of such words as ebullient, somnambulist, nefarious, etc. which disrupt the poetic flow. While some poems stood out for me; in the message they attempted to convey, some felt point-blank weak to stir any emotion, at all. At the heart of the 61 verses, the author has tried to reach out to readers, perhaps, even create a recognition for himself. Whether he has succeeded in doing so, only you can tell.

Finally:

The best of the collection is this little piece that never left my mind; even though it’s been months I read it the first time.

Ashes

It flew against the air tenaciously
to mingle with one of its own
it lamented on its way
thinking where the others have gone

It remembered that moment
and those emotions
when the body was obliterated
and everyone departed

It was after all
a particle of ash

Searching for the eloped soul
that was now without a face