I’m excited to have a fellow #RRBC member and poet, Balroop Singh here today in celebration of National Poetry Month!
Poetry: My First Love
I don’t remember when I started liking poetry. Probably I was born with it or was fascinated by the lyrics of Mother Nature. My love for words dates back to those crazy days of playing word games in school, when we perused our dictionaries to accomplish the challenge of finding new words and guessing the meanings.
Despite those word-challenging games, my vocabulary remained so insignificant that I had to look up simple words like ‘gaunt’ to give the exact meaning to my students.
Can you believe that I have been accused of using difficult words in my poems?
Can you fathom my elation at such a compliment?
It is indeed a compliment for a person who has always struggled with words; who was not that blessed to be surrounded by books as a child; who was always eager to borrow books from the library but had to return them half-read!
Poetry soars on the wings of words; I like it due to its succinct style. Just one metaphor could speak volumes. I poured all my woes and emotions into words to create poetry. Soon I learnt to fly on its wings and my themes widened.
Poetry touches your deepest cords effortlessly. It develops perceptions.
It liberates us from mundane events and situations. It is cathartic, as it could carry me from detachment to forgiveness.
Due to its ambiguous nature, it can be interpreted in more than one way, depending on how a reader discerns your thoughts.
When I published my debut book, ‘Sublime Shadows of Life’ my excitement was at the ninth cloud and I got some copies printed for friends and family and sent them, even to those friends whom I met occasionally or had not met after school days.
One of my friends who had not been in touch with me for a long time rang me up and asked: ‘Are you okay?’
I replied in affirmative and asked why was she asking.
She had a grim tone and said: ‘Is everything going well in your life?’
I laughed loudly at the tone of my fun-loving friend and asked her what was wrong with her.
She told me that she got alarmed at some of my poems, which talked about oppression and dark moments.
Though I had mentioned in the blurb “I, you, he, we and they are universal symbols, which highlight the fact that happiness is not a destination…” but who reads the introduction!
Authors draw inspiration from life and people around them and many of them agree that they do creep into their stories.
Some of my poems do give a peep into my life. I have written about an incident that moved me deeply. Some of my poems are an emotional outburst; some are inspired from the life of my friends but all of them are not about me.
The following poem is an excerpt from my debut book: Sublime Shadows of Life.
Pain… My Antidote
Nearer to thee, my pain
Nearer to thee…
Now I have embraced you,
Conquered you!
You have become my antidote,
You can no longer break my spirit,
You were my constant companion,
Now I have befriended you,
Made you my dearest confidant.
You have always mothered me,
Rocked me, pushed me around
Sometimes pricked me
In the form of a sibling,
Made fun of me,
Challenged my capabilities.
Many times you have
Surrounded me with
Selfish, self-centered,
Incompetent, insecure people
You have flattered me
In the form of fair weather friends
You have made me suffer in silence.
As a child, I could not confront you
But growing with you
Emboldened me, enriched my life,
Made me realize
You cannot even touch my soul.
I have emerged stronger,
Kinder, perceptive, forgiving
To embrace you with all the humility.
© Balroop Singh
An excerpt from Emerging From Shadows:
Oasis Of Peace
Blooming blossoms, whispering wind
Carried me far into the haven of peace
Solitude softly spoke in serene tone,
We welcome weary travelers alone
Divesting dirty robes of dissent
We revel in the glorious sun
You too can embrace this light
Just follow it with smiling delight
The light that enlightens the mind
The light that permeates all around
Adds new dimension to thoughts
Guides us out of those knobby knots
Illumines those innate virtues
When we try to shake them off
In annoyance, in rage, in resentment
Leisurely hours are wistfully spent
Rejoicing in the new found glee
We sat and shared upon His knee
Palpable peace pervaded all around
Into which all dismay drowned.
© Balroop Singh
Author Bio:
Balroop Singh, a former teacher and an educationalist always had a passion for writing. She would jot down her reflections on a piece of paper and forget about them till each drawer of her home started overflowing with poetic reminders, popping out at will!
She is a poet, a creative non-fiction writer, a relaxed blogger and a doting grandma. She writes about people, emotions and relationships. Her poetry highlights the fact that happiness is not a destination but a chasm to bury agony, anguish, grief, distress and move on! No sea of solitude is so deep that it can drown us. Sometimes aspirations are trampled upon, the boulders of exploitation and discrimination may block your path but those who tread on undeterred are always successful.
When turbulences hit, when shadows of life darken, when they come like unseen robbers, with muffled exterior, when they threaten to shatter your dreams, it is better to break free rather than get sucked by the vortex of emotions.
A self-published author, she is the poet of Sublime Shadows of Life and Emerging From Shadows and Timeless Echoes.
She has also written When Success Eludes, Emotional Truths Of Relationships Read FREE with Kindle Unlimited and Allow Yourself to be a Better Person.
Read more HERE
You can visit my BLOG
Let’s connect:
Thank you for inviting me to your blog Denise; I am feeling honored.
Balroop writes beautiful and meaningful poetry. Lovely to see her featured here, Denise.
Thank you so much for your kind words Robbie. Love and hugs.
Yes she does, Robbie, I agree:) Thanks for dropping by!
I love Balroop’s poetry, Denise. I have two of her books. Thank you for featuring her. 🙂
Thanks Miriam, I am delighted to hear that.
You’re welcome, Balroop.
I complety agree, Miriam:) I was excited to have her here!
I’m sure she’s delighted. Denise!
Loved reading more about you Balroop and the poem was very touching. Poetry is so good for the soul.
Hi Julie, I am glad you liked my poems. Thank you for coming over to read and share your thoughts about them. 🙂 Have a lovely weekend.
Thanks for dropping by, Julie:) Poetry does touch the soul.
Hi, Denise! It’s great to see Balroop featured here. Her poetry is beautiful and deep. I read ‘Emerging from Shadows’ and loved it. Her other books are on my TBR list and I look forward to reading them. Thank you! 😊💕
Hi Vashti, Loved your thoughts about my poetry. Many thanks for your generosity. I am feeling on top of the world! 🙂
Hi Vashti! I added her other poetry books to my TBR list, too after reading her poetry book a few weeks ago. Thank you for coming by:)
That’s great, Denise! It’s always a pleasure. <3 xo
What a fabulous post! I enjoyed learning more about Balroop and her love affair with words. Her skill is evident in the verses showcased here, so very vivid like images woven on a loom. I particularly liked Oasis of Peace. Congratulations, Balroop!
Hi Mae, I am touched deeply by your words…the words of a writer! Oasis of Peace is one of my favorite poems, it came to me like lightening and almost wrote itself. Thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts and wishes. Stay blessed.
I love your description of words being woven on a loom, Mae:) Very fitting! So happy you dropped by.
Perfect spotlight for this month, Denise. I am a Balroop fan–enjoyed the post.
Wow! A big hug Jacqui, you made my day!
Thank you, Jacqui:) i was excited to have her here and like you became a fan of her poetry. Thanks for coming by.
Many thanks for hosting me Denise, our love for poetry and Mother Nature connects us so beautifully. 🙂 Stay blessed dear friend and have a wonderful weekend.
I was very excited to have you here, Balroop! I’m very happy our love of poetry and nature has connected us! Thank you and I hope the same for you:)
Very interesting details about your childhood, Balroop. It was a pleasure learning more and reading these lovely poems. Thanks for hosting. Denise.
I’m happy you stopped by John:) Always glad to host.
😊
I have many more such details John, childhood memories are most precious…whatever their form or hue! Thank you for liking my poems and sharing your thoughts. Have a nice weekend.
You as well, Balroop.
Hello and Congratulations Balroop.
Thanks Shirley, pleased to meet you. I hope you liked my poems.
balroop2013, I revisited this site and read your poems and information about you. I must say, that since being in RRBC I have come to appreciate some poetry, mostly because they make sense to me. Some poems do not, and Denise and I discussed this. I was a reader just like you, and although I didn’t grow up having much, I was blessed to have parents who surrounded me with books. Thank you for sharing your poems.
Thank you Shirley for revisiting my guest post, understanding all kinds of poetry is a little hard, I agree. Patience and slow reading is essential for understanding poetry.
Thanks for dropping by Shirley:)
What beautiful poems! Balroop is a natural-born poet and it shows in her expressions. Happy National Poetry Month, Denise and Balroop!
Yes she is, Jan:) Happy National Poetry Day to you, too!
Thank you Jan, I am delighted at your choice of words. Stay blessed!
I am always amazed at how poets can weave words into such wonderful verses! Good luck to you, Balroop, with your beautiful poetry!
Thank you Julie, sometimes when I look back at my creations, I ask myself.. ‘did I write this poem!’ Some moments are like that when words just flow. 🙂
Balroop, you captured every emotion I feel when writing. This particular line resonates deeply.
“It liberates us from mundane events and situations. It is cathartic, as it could carry me from detachment to forgiveness.”
Your poetry is a gift. Thank you for sharing your passion.
Many thanks, Denise, for sharing, as well.
Cheers to you both! 🙂
Thanks for dropping by Natalie:) It is a beautiful gift when it carries is from detachment to forgiveness
I am so glad you could connect with my thoughts Natalie, thanks for telling me. I agree with you, poetry comes naturally though this gift can be embellished with time. 🙂
Beautiful… ♥
Thanks for stopping by Bette:)
Thanks Bette, I love your support. Stay blessed.
Always a pleasure, Balroop! ♥ Blessings and love…
Good to see you after such ling time….. You are my udol ma’am.. Its Rajneet kaur 1996 batch…
Thanks for coming by and supporting Balroop, Rajneet!
Thank you so much Rajneet, I am overwhelmed by your love 🙂 Stay blessed!
It’s lovely to see Balroop featured, Denise. Huge hugs to you both. 🙂
Thanks, Teagan! Huge hugs back to you:)
Many thanks for your support and hugs Teagan and thanks for sharing this post. 🙂
Very nice lines written.each line has a meaning.very nice madam ji.
Respected mam, your ” Very Good” remarks on my essay writing in class were the inspiration for me to study literature and read books………thanks for being my teacher….i Am Ravinder kaur if you remember from Ssms
Seen first time.felt so happy for her.she was my English teacher in high school