Quitetude is a new collection that dives deeper into the heart’s most delicate and velvety states. While the moon in Pie of a Moon, once served as a canvas for admiration and connection, this new volume finds solace, tranquillity and struggle in the enchanting beauty of nature. These poems explore the intricate threads of relationships, the quiet ache of longing, and the endless waiting that often precedes an incomplete love. This is a book for anyone who has felt the earth beneath their feet, washed the tears of remembrance in the rain and the weight of another’s absence in their soul.
Author: Balwinder Singh | Publisher: Notion Press | Genre: Poetry | Pages: 112
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Contemporary poetry often leans toward excess or obscurity, while Quitetude chooses a quieter path. This bilingual collection of 42 English poems and 55 Hindi poems is built on brevity, introspection, and emotional reflection. The book offers short poems in both the major Indian languages that invite pause and contemplation.
Many poems feel like fragments of lived experience, shaped by relationships, nature, and absence of something that was. The poet avoids too much explanation, allowing images and silences to carry meaning. While both the English and Hindi sections explore similar emotional terrain, the Hindi poems feel more grounded and resonant. Pieces like दीवार, यादें, कुछ पत्ते, and घरौंदा, show a natural ease with suggestion and restraint. Among the English poems, Book of Life, Wars, and Tale of Lost Love, stand out for their clarity and message.
That said, the collection’s most noticeable limitation is its length. Quitetude is a slim volume and while individual poems are effective in their concision, the book as a whole feels too brief to leave a lasting imprint. Just as the reader begins to settle into its mood, the collection ends, creating a sense of lack of completeness.
Still, Quitetude has its strengths. It is a calm, thoughtful book that values subtlety over spectacle. Best read slowly, it offers small moments of connection rather than overwhelming feelings. While it may leave some readers wanting more depth or duration, it succeeds in presenting poetry that is sincere, accessible, and quietly reflective.
Please note: I received an ARC from the author but the review remains unbiased.
