LIFE OF A POET ~ TARANG SINHA

Today, my friends, we are featuring Tarang Sinha, who writes at TARANG: REFLECTION OF MY THOUGHTS AND IMAGINATION. Tarang lives in India, a country we are always so pleased to visit. She is highly accomplished as a published freelance writer, and is announcing the publication of her first novel this month. Tarang is also a watercolour artist and will share a few of her paintings with us. I can't wait! Let's begin.

Sherry: Tarang, am happy to be interviewing you! Would you tell us about your life, so we can get to know you better? 

Tarang: Hello! I am so glad to be featured on Poets United, a beautiful community for poets.

I am a freelance writer, avid reader, and an active blogger. I work from home, and my works have been published in magazines like Good Housekeeping India, Child India, Women’s Era, and in a best-selling anthology Uff Ye Emotions 2. My first novel We Will Meet Again is all set to release in July. 

Sherry: How wonderful to be able to work from home and be so widely published. And congratulations on your book, which we will talk about later. For now, let’s go all the way back to childhood. Where did you grow up? Looking back, is there anything in your childhood you feel led you to your life as a writer?

Tarang: I grew up in India (Still live in IndiaJ).

I think you can’t be a good writer if you are not a good reader. I have inherited my love for books from my grandparents (voracious readers). We had a small library in our home, and I started reading novels pretty early in my life. I was in school and my grandparents didn’t approve my reading novels at that age. Sometimes I did that secretly.

As a child, I wanted to become everything except a writer. Discovering a writer in me was a stroke of serendipity.

Sherry: We poets do seem to share that love of books, and words. When did you write your first poem? What do you love about poetry?

Tarang: Unlike many other writers, I started writing very late as it was the last thing I wanted to be. I picked poetry because I thought it was easy. I thought I couldn’t write stories. And a novel? It seemed out of the question! But time and consistency stir your determination and change things completely.

Poetry is a beautiful expression in few words. So, it takes polished skills to write poetry. I think it’s more expressive.

Sherry: I am excited about your book! Especially as you thought it was impossible to write one! Tell us about the publication of your debut novel, “We Will Meet Again.”  

Tarang: For me, it was a tough journey. My book is a mature love story, embellished with various shades of emotions.

I'm sure it will be super-exciting to hold the first copy in my hands. I am yet to experience that feeling, as We Will Meet Again hasn’t released yet. We have just unveiled the cover of my book. It will be out in July, the  last week. However, it’s up for pre-orders Here.

Sherry: As it turns out, it will come out soon after this feature, so Poets United has the pleasure of announcing its launch. Our congratulations to you, Tarang. 

What impact has blogging had on your writing?

Tarang: Great impact, I’d say. It’s a wonderful platform to both express and discover your writing. For this, I would like to thank my brother Nilabh Verma, for introducing me to this beautiful world.

Sherry: Our thanks to you, too, Nilabh, for now we get to enjoy your sister's poetry! Would you care to share three of your poems with us, and tell us a bit about each one?

~~~

Every single day

I open the treasure of your memories

I smile, I weep

Some make me yearn for more

Some hurt deep, oh so deep!

I whirl, and whirl, 

And they chase

No, how can I erase?

So, I make a choice, 

And move to the lovely ones

Memories churn

Take me with its wings

Emotions glisten in my eyes

My lips tremble to smile

The moment I feel you beam

And your voice ring

~~~

It’s an expression of great loss in life that leaves such a deep impression that they eventually become a scar.

Sherry: It is so hard when a beautiful memory also carries pain. You have expressed this so well.

~~~

From the closet of life,

Or from the sack of my own imagination

I extract many untold stories

I stuff them in the diary of my mind

I bond with them deeply

Yet forget sometimes…

They shuffle and struggle

To get out

Like a caged bird

To be heard and shine

I grumble as I try to settle

The whirlpool of those untold stories

Lovely imageries dance

And I envisage them to take beautiful shapes

I try but they jumble and I fail, sometimes…

This misery is painless

But

True, there’s no greater agony

Than bearing untold stories inside you…

~~~

This poem was written for a prompt site, and the prompt was the quotation of Maya Angelou, this quotation which I strongly believe in. It is painful to carry an untold story, indeed!  

"There is no greater agony than 

bearing an untold story inside you."

Maya Angelou

Sherry: I so agree. As writers, we must write. And your third poem?

~~~

For some peaceful moments,  

I want to vanish, 

Behind a magical door,

That opens to an enchanting lake shore

Fringed with peaceful landscaped view

Oh, that colouful hue!

Where the aura is enveloped in sheer bliss

Where serenity greet me with tender kiss

Where silence cradles me in its warmth 

Where breeze hums a soothing lullaby, 

Under the limitless azure sky

Where golden sunshine plays hide and seek

Giving me some solace that I seek

Where I can drown myself

In the pool of interesting books, without any interruption!

Where I can have my share of fun

Where vivid colours of nature, fill me refreshed zest

I so wish to curl up in cozy nest, 

Giving anxiety some rest

Sometimes, I yearn for that friendly solitude

Just, for some peaceful moments!

~~~

It’s my feeling expressed in the form of a poem. Sometimes, I do feel like vanishing somewhere, and what could be the better place than this (as described in the poem)?

Sherry: A verdant retreat with a stack of books sounds like bliss to me!

Tell us about your love of art and painting. Do you have a photo  of a few of your paintings to share with us?

Tarang: I love watercolour painting! I have tried a couple of paintings, and finally realized that I am a bad painter. Reading, writing and blogging keep me busy but, I will try to keep my enthusiasm (for painting) alive.

Sherry: Tarang, your work is lovely. Painting is a wonderful outlet. I hope you do continue.

Is there anything you'd like to say to Poets United?

Tarang:   Poets United is a wonderful platform for poets! It helps writers to express, and connect with many lovely poets. I like the pictures you share. I am a regular participant and feel good about it. 

I wish Poets United all the best, and years and years and years of inspiration!   

Sherry: Thank you, Tarang, for the lovely wishes. All the best to you on the publication of your novel. May it sell many copies. We look forward to enjoying your work in the months to come.

Wasn't this lovely, my friends? I always love a visit to Mother India. Do come back and see who we talk to next - and where! Who knows? It might be you!