LIFE OF A POET - ANUSHA DAS

My friends, today we are pleased to introduce one of our newer members, Anusha Das, who blogs at  LEAFLET - where words fall in cool breeze . What is very cool is that Anusha is married to one of our long-time members, Amrit Sinha, whom we have featured before here. I love it when  poets find each other and get married. Can you imagine the potential for poetry? Let's dive in.

At Munmar, when wind kisses my hair

Sherry: Anusha, I was so delighted to read on your blog that you are married to Amrit,  and we are so pleased you have now joined him at Poets United.  How delightful. Tell us a bit about your life, won’t you?

Anusha: Hi Sherry! First of all a big thanks to you for your questions, and I feel excited to answer them. I belong from a small town in India named Bhagalpur. My father is a retired Government Bank employee and my mother is a wonderful home-maker. My younger sister is currently employed in an MNC.

The motto of my life is whatever be the situation, you have to wake up, dress up and show up. Some days are bright, and some may look pretty bad. However, even bad has that ‘pretty’ attached to it, and we need to move forward taking that in mind. Also, I believe change is an essential part of life, and we should be ready for any change.

At Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Me with my hubby Amrit

I am employed in a Government bank, like my father. I am blessed to have Amrit in my life, and we are on the verge of completing 2 years of our marriage. I am also blessed to have caring in-laws, with my father-in-law being a retired Bank Officer, and my mother-in-law a wonderful lady. Our families have known each other since our birth.

In Houseboat at Kerala - 

my first trip with hubby

Sherry: Congratulations on your marriage, Anusha. Your family sounds wonderful. And how lovely to have known your husband since birth. 

I must ask straightaway, how long have you been writing? When did you begin? What caused you to pick up your pen and write that first poem?

Anusha: I started writing in my school days, but I didn’t take it seriously back then. I remember I used to scribble few short poems and two liners in the last pages of my notebooks and wondered whether they were good enough to be read out loud to others. A few years ago when I was struggling to get a desired job, be ahead in competition, and was on the verge of disappointment, I think that was the phase when my poetry oozed out from my wounded heart. My first poem was a sad one and three pages long.

As I mentioned, I have been writing since my childhood, but it was my dear husband and your friend Amrit who made me realise that my poems are good and I should continue writing. It was he who suggested me to start my own blog and turn my hobby into art, for which I will always be thankful to him.

Sherry: We are so happy that you did! What is it about poetry that caused you to choose it as your means of creative expression? What do you love about it?

Anusha: The best part of poetry is the world of the imagination. I love to create my own world where I am the leader, in which I can change, create or curate anything I want. Poems transport me to my own world of dreams. I love the essence of imagination in poetry. They give you the ability to think and create.

"Poems transport me 

to my own world of dreams."

Poems give us the space to express whatever we desire. There are no boundaries. They are limitless. Poetry is a sea of emotion, accompanied by imagination, in which I love to float.

Sherry: What a beautiful description that is! Is there anyone in your life you feel has been a significant influence on your becoming a poet? Someone who encouraged you, told you stories as a child, believed in you? 

Anusha: As a child, my mother used to narrate lots of stories to me and made me eat my lunch. The stories revolved around kings, queens, fairies and a bit of mythology, and they helped me exercise my imagination. My grandmom, who used to put me to sleep, did that with innumerable tales about ghosts and the paranormal, and though they were scary, I loved the thrill they generated. 

Sherry: My grandma told me ghost stories too!

Anusha: In school, I was a regular visitor to the library, reading novels and magazines. These gradually arose within me the desire to write something of my own.

When I met Amrit, he inspired me to write more and helped me start my own blog. He insisted me to give words to my thoughts, and that’s how I began to focus more on my poems. In fact, I had got attracted to him because of his poetry.

Sherry: That is interesting. I always think we can know a poet's heart through his poetry, and it seems to be very true in your case. I read one of your poems about your grandmother, and suspect she is an important person in your life. Would you like to tell us a little about her? Maybe a small story from your childhood?

Anusha: Yes of course! She has been an important person in my life. Everyone says that I am a shadow of her. Actually I am a lookalike of her. My grandmother was a sweet lady. Simplicity defines her the best. She was fond of reading newspapers. During our summer vacations I used to nap with her on sultry afternoons. She narrated to me incidents about various people, our native village, as well as childhood stories which revolved around my father, uncles and aunts. Sadly she passed away when I was in my high school. I miss her sometimes, as she could not even witness my marriage.

Sherry: It is so hard to lose our grandmothers. I am so sorry, Anusha. I am sure she would be so proud of you. 

Would you like to choose two or three of your poems to share with us, and tell us a bit about each one?

Anusha: Sure! Here they are.

I sew memories

In that winter sun

Basking in glory

As slowly embers burn

Huddled together

Bundled in awe

In grandma's cuddle

Dreams that I saw

By that wooden log

Orange it glowed

Warm stories flowed

As out snow poured

I sew memories

Sweet and bitter

Of moth smelling sweater

That lovely tender winter

source

Sherry: I love this poem! It reminds me of sitting looking into the flames of a small gas fireplace, as my grandma told me stories on winter afternoons when I was small.

Anusha: This poem makes me nostalgic. It carries me back to my hometown. It makes me a child once again when during long winter nights we all family members used to sit around the fireplace and giggled in joy, listening to many stories which mom and grandma narrated. I felt so warm in my woollens, a  comfort that no expensive bed in the world could provide. My dad would often bring something hot and spicy to eat which we had together. The above poem is about  my childhood winter nights.

It rained that day

On a haven's bay

A soothsayer with cards

Waited on a barren yard

Those questions on his mind

With greed was he blind

He met the sorcerer's eyes

Like fire striking ice

"Oh you boy

What do you wish?

The cards on a deck

Are awaiting your pick

"But wisely choose your pick

And do not frown

As your fortune lay strewn

By the candle wick"

"'Riches' all I want

Of world and wide

As happiness to me

Is what diamonds provide"

"So be it"

said the tarot wizard

"It will rain gold

Instead of hail and cold"

With excitement he cried

Hopped and danced around

Alas what he found

His hopes down profound

Sad it was a dream

A fanciful whim

He rubs his eyes

None hears his utter cries

Anusha: As I mentioned above that poetry form is a world of imagination and emotions, here I tried to create a world of fantasy and whim. I penned down a whimsical story which children would love to read if ever it gets published. 

Sherry: It would appeal to children, and carries a message as well. 

the thunder the grumble

my heart does rumble

with pain and pleasure

all that I treasure

emotions corked up for long

tears stored for long

sudden struck a lightning

insides blare out

I pour and pour

memories sweet and sour

and as the cloud burst

rain kissed the earth

revealed and healed

soul that was sealed

now open and ajar

peace not so far

Anusha: This poem is about bottled up feelings which people do not share when they are upset. The path of life is stony sometimes but we should share our problems with close ones. Sharing makes the burden lighter. We all have our ups and downs but we should not corner ourselves from the outer world.  Sharing our problems makes us relieved, calm and composed.

Sherry: I so agree. When someone is closed off, others can't know what they are feeling, unless they talk about it.

What other pursuits or activities do you enjoy when you aren’t writing?

Anusha: Apart from writing, I love listening to music and reading novels. Whenever I am stressed I just sing out loud and in a minute I forget everything. Singing clears my heart and I feel lighter. Similarly, reading also makes me forget the outer world and I enjoy it thoroughly. Lately I have generated deep interest in cooking and experimenting with food. In short you can say that I am a jack of all trades but master of none.

My first dance recital competition in school

Sherry: It seems you have mastered many pursuits, Anusha! You look adorable at your dance recital. Do you still dance?

Anusha: Yes, but just casually.

Sherry: Anusha, we want to welcome you warmly to our community. We are so happy to get to know you better. Is there anything you would like to say to Poets United?

Anusha: Poets United is an apt platform for budding writers like me. It gives me immense pleasure to see the comments of other poets on my blog, which motivate me further to write. Also, visiting other poets’ blogs enhances my learning, as I find myself pleasantly surrounded in the midst of poetic art globally. I want to say “Thank you” from the core of my heart to Poets United. Keep showering your love on me.

Sherry: We will! Thank you, Anusha, for this lovely visit. We hope to enjoy your work, and Amrit's, for a long time to come. 

Wasn't this a lovely visit, kids? Do come back and see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you!