Life of a Poet - Ankita

You know how much I love Mother India! It is why I'm so happy we are going back there this week to visit the beautiful young poet, Ankita, who hangs out at Poetry....A Journey Within. Grab a window seat, as there is much to see as we rush through the crowded streets. Ankita is waiting for us, and is setting out steaming cups of chai, which makes this moment absolutely perfect!

Sherry: Ankita, you live in a wonderful place where we visited another poet recently. Tell us a bit about it. Have you always lived here? Do you have a favorite spot you love to go to?

Ankita: Thank you so much, Sherry, for asking me to be a part of ‘Life of a Poet’ series. I am truly honored. I presently stay in Bangalore, a cosmopolitan city in the southern part of beautiful India. My work brought me to this city. 

Otherwise I was born and brought up in Jodhpur (Rajasthan), a small city located in western part of India.  It is beautiful historic city once ruled by Kings and presently a home for magnificent palaces and forts. It is a desert but colorful in every way with its culture, cuisines and hospitality.  This place I have called home for long, and have lived happily before I moved to Bangalore. Let me give you people a peek into this city.

         Mehrangarh fort  

  

      

    Umaid Palace  

I have visited almost all major destinations in India, yet there are loads to explore. I love nature, and would love to go as many times as I can to places inhabited around natural landscapes.

Sherry: From your writings, I can tell you had a wonderful childhood. Would you like to tell us a bit about what made it so magical? You must have wonderful parents and grandparents.

Me, my sister, my brother

It is one of the most beautiful memories I hold. We are three siblings; I have an elder sister who just got married, and younger brother who is studying in an engineering college. Being a middle child definitely has loads of perks; I was pampered a lot and at the same time I get to scold my younger brother. 

My family, with my sister and brother-in-law

My childhood was full of fun and loads of learning, which definitely made me what I am today. My lovely mother believed  one should know everything, irrespective of you are a girl or a boy and she had a major impact on my educational endeavors. She taught me cooking, dancing, swimming, knitting, paintings, games, apart from excelling in studies. I don’t know how she did it but she made it all.  I never missed a class nor any of my childhood games. Dad was always there to cut some slack when mom wasn’t around. I am blessed to have parents and siblings like them.

My sister and grandmother

I have only my maternal grandmother around, others I lost at a very early age. She is a lovely soul and we call her ‘Nani’( Mother’s Mother).  I miss spending time with grandparents and being pampered by them, but then Mom and Dad never made us feel that void in our lives.

Me, in my sister's wedding

Sherry: Ankita, you look absolutely gorgeous in your wedding finery! Your gown is spectacular, and your entire family is beautiful!   What is your life like today? Give us a little peek into the life of Ankita!

Ankita: I can say it is finally like what I dreamt of when I was a child. I did my engineering in Electronics and Communications and presently employed as Staff Software Engineer in National Instruments (R&D).  I really enjoy my work and when not working I love cooking, writing or reading novels. I love exploring new places and have travelled to many incredible places and still look forward anytime to visit new places. Travelling has been always a beautiful experience and during one of them I wrote these lines which I wish to include  here:

As I travel across the man made boundaries

I happen to ponder over a passing thought

Elements of the nature remain same

Yet every part of the world tells a different story...

Sherry: I love it. And I love all the footprints on the sand...could be any feet, any beach in the world. When did you begin writing poetry? What led you to writing your first poem?

Ankita: I have been writing for around two years now, it has been a pretty wonderful experience so far. It was one day when I had so much going on in my mind, and somehow I just grabbed a pen and scribbled a write on piece of paper and it turned out to be my first write ever. I still have that scribbled paper kept as a memory of my first write. Since then I have written whatever that comes to my mind and I would love to write about.

Sherry: That is a cool story. Why did you choose poetry as your means of creative expression? What does poetry mean to you?

Ankita: I have realized over a period of time that there are certain things in life that come naturally to you, and poetry is one of those things for me. I love writing, there are some times that I don’t have thoughts and sometimes words don’t come to me, but then when everything is right and they do come, those moments are beautiful in themselves.  I love what I write and I love writing, poetry is not the only way of expression, but it is one of the most beautiful expressions for me.

Sherry: What are your hopes for your poetry in the years ahead?

Ankita: I have two poems published in anthologies and I feel great about them. One is ‘My Gracious Moon’ in a book named ‘Natural Reflections’ and the other ‘In a fabled garden’ in the book named ‘Impressions’. In the coming future I would love to have a book with my collection of poems printed. It is a dream that I hold close and would really want it to come true sometime.

Sherry: It will happen, Ankita! I just know it. I love your poem, My Gracious Moon, and would love to include it here.

Ankita: I have always loved writing about nature. This was my first poem that got published in an anthology and that is why it is special to me. I wrote this looking at a full moon from the window of my bed room. It was beautiful clear sky with moon shining so bright in the lovely night sky.

My Gracious Moon

When the beautiful night unveils with darkness

I look for you in the starry sky above

And I find you glancing through the clouds

You feel so close yet so far, my love

Everything about your existence is amazing

The waning gibbous, the waxing half moon 

And the solitary crescent, I have always been praising

But I adore the most, the gracious full moon 

When everything shines in your silvery light

And only the outlines highlight in your presence

When the charmed ocean dances every night

Babbling and celebrating your eternal essence

And as the dawn makes its way with a light

I shall wait for the night to see you again

The world of night is a beautiful sight

'Cause of you, my wandering gracious moon...

Sherry: Such a lovely poem, Ankita! Your blog name is Poetry....a Journey Within! (Isn't that the truth!) Will you continue to chart your journey through poetry? (I hope so – you will be AMAZED when you reach my age and look back at what a journey you have made.)

Ankita: The name ‘Poetry .....a Journey Within!’ was the first name that came to my mind when I first started writing my blog and sometimes it is best to stick with what comes first to mind.

Yes, I would love to continue writing about my life’s journey through my blog. I just wish, Sherry, when I get old, I am as good as you are or any other poets at Poets United. 

Sherry: Ankita, you are kind. Thank you. But believe in your own writing - you have your own very unique voice. When did you begin blogging and how has that affected your writing?

Ankita: It has been around more than year since I started blogging and it has been a beautiful journey so far, I first started blogging to keep my writings in one place. Now when I look back I love to see how the blog has turned up over the time.  The comments from friends keep me motivated and have made me improve my writings over time.

Sherry: I see you have a second blog, Thoughts,  where you offer snippets of wisdom. Do you sometimes write prose as well? If not, do you think you might branch out into prose in the future?

Ankita: While writing poetry, there are often times when there are lines that are complete in themselves and my other blog ‘Thoughts - Anything you say can make a history’ holds a place for all those random thoughts that I have while writing.

I would love to write Prose in future. Ironically, I never thought about writing poetry, but I always thought about writing prose, as a child.

Sherry: You list travel and art as your interests. Are you an artist yourself? What do you appreciate about art?

Ankita: Yes. I do paint as a hobby. I have always loved art in its every form, as a matter of fact, we all three siblings love art and that truly comes to us  from our mother. 

She used to paint when we were young and that is how we all learnt painting. She is an incredible artist; all our paintings at our home are made by her. I have been sketching since I was a child as a hobby, and I have always loved art. I would love to include some of my paintings, and some of my younger brother's as well here.

 My brother Ankur's art can be viewed on Facebook at Artistic Ankur. 
 Here are two samples:

                       
               
                                                                                                              

    Sherry:  You are a very talented family, Ankita. Thanks for sharing these. They are wonderful! I can see a book combining your writing and art work, somewhere in your future. Now for travel. Where have you traveled so far? 

Ankita: I love travelling and I never miss a chance to get on a bus or a train whenever I can. I have travelled  my whole childhood, with family around India, and since then I have loved to roam around and explore. Apart from India, I have travelled to to Sri lanka and United States. 

Bentota Beach, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a beautiful city with the blue waters, mouth-watering cuisines and a colorful culture. 

In the United States, I had a chance to visit Austin and San Antonio, in Texas. It was different than many other places I have visited, but incredibly beautiful.

Sunset view from The Oasis, 

on Lake Travis, Austin, Texas

I have a wish to see sunset in every part of the world once. I know it seems really unrealistic, but then there is so much to see in just one life.

Natural bridge caverns, San Antonio

Sherry: I love sunsets, too. Do you have poem written by you, that you would like to share with us? 

Ankita: I would like to include one of my all time favorites:  ‘It is the Journey that’s Important’. I wrote this when I was sad about parting ways with my dear friend, and reading this has always made me feel better.

It is the Journey That's Important....

Life is but an unspeakable journey

With each turn a new one

At times the destination is known

Other times wandering aimlessly on life's road

But somehow it leads us where we need to be

And I always question

"Is it the journey that's important,

or getting there?"

Ups and down, twist and turns

Mountains and valleys, bumps and holes

Life's road is like a blank map

I am trying to lead

Knowing often I came from 

Going somewhere I wish to be

Leaving questions to ponder

Will I reach where I want to be?

"Is it the journey that's important,

or getting there?"

Though we all have an outlandish destination

Yet we share journey at some point

Often like a ride in the common bus

The joy we have in the ride

Makes us forget the destination

Once held so close to our heart and

Wishing the journey never ends

And I slowly understand

"It is the journey that's important, not getting there!" 

View from Mount Bonnell, Austin, Texas

Sherry: That is so true. Enjoy the journey! What would we be most surprised to learn about you? 

Ankita: I love talking, and I can talk nonstop for hours. I love to shop and travel whenever I can, and I am a girl that believes totally in happy endings.  Most of the people who know me say I haven’t grown up yet but then there is no fun in growing up. 

Shopping

Sherry: I agree. Refuse to do it! Is there anything you would like to say to Poets United? 

Ankita: I would like to thank you, Sherry, for being a wonderful host, and for all your patience. It has been a wonderful experience being associated with Poets United. All the poets here are incredibly gifted and wonderful human beings. Each of you has inspired me in so many ways, and has been so encouraging and supportive, and I love exchanging comments with all of you. Thank you for everything.

Sherry: Thank you, Ankita, for this lovely visit and for your kind words. We are so happy you found our community and look forward to reading many more of your poems in the days and months ahead.

Don't you love these international visits to beautiful India? It was so lovely meeting this beautiful young poet and getting to know her better. Do come back and see who we talk to next. It is a Chat Between Two Poets and is one of the most amazing conversations I have ever had in my life!