I try to write poetry. Shyly I write and try to keep it to myself. I love poetry, poets, recitations and everything to do with poems. However, oddly I never liked to read poetry books. Guess I like them when they are sung by someone. Poetry put in lyrical format coupled with melody is what I am interested in.
Or may be recitations preferably with some haunting background music. I have been like this for long.
Recently I somehow stumbled upon a book of poetry by my favorite poet, Gulzaar saab. It was a select collection with translations done by Pavan Varma. I hesitated, being me to pick up that book and read. Book had some of very known poems which I had heard and read in some bookstores.
Eventually I started reading the book. Within 20 minutes I finished it all. Because I just read. Something happened to me and I went through again and again and surprise 5 times post that! Each time it took me at least over an hour to read it.
Then I realised something. Listening to poetry and reading poetry are two diametrically opposite aspects of poetry. When you listening to it, there is a mood which is already set, a tone which is already established and then you decipher the intricacies of a poem. However, when you read a poem, you are free like a bird to take a flight wherever you want to. Reading poem and decoding the magic of words is something which is subject to interpretation and which is magical!
I am ready now to read to savour to interpret and to enjoy poetry in its rawest form!
