Inhale the fragrance
Of spring in abundance
An extravaganza of blooms
Poppies, tulips, and lilies
Invading coarse sidewalks
Boughs are laden with
The promise of fruits
Casting spells of hope
On a talisman of petals
Gently pulsating with life
On the edges, jagged
Of a broken mirror
In reflected multi-facets
I can now see
How a little breaking
Reveals more of what’s
Hidden in me!
Book: Midnight Journey of a Seed
Author: Manish Srivastava
Genre: Poetry, Philosophy, Self-help, Spiritual
Available at: Amazon.in
Recommended: Liked It
The Covid-19 pandemic had us struggling mentally and spiritually because none of us ever thought such a calamity would befall our modern society with so many amenities and scientific backing. Manish Srivastava writes in his poetry collection- Midnight Journey of a Seed:
“There is a wild uncharted field
Between what science can explain
And what religion can claim”
With countries, communities, and families grappling with the horrors of a rogue virus of unknown origins, trying to make sense of a cloistered lifestyle bound by lockdowns, covered by masks, Manish is shaken and perturbed. Like many individuals, he takes a deep inward journey. He pens down his thoughts using the techniques of journaling and poetry. Taking cues from spiritual influences in his life and practical experiences as a family man and professional, he creates a book that deserves a space in our bookshelves. The pandemic way of life affected the writer, and the anguish and sensitivity seeped through the pages, both in prose and verse.
Manish’s book is brave, as it calls out issues of governance. It is triggering because it revives the traumatic months of our world ravaged by the pandemic. Yet, his work is important because we are capable of collective amnesia, and it is imperative for the revival and regeneration of our civilization to remember what we have endured. He says,
“At 70 cases we were alarmed
At 7 million we have become numb and disengaged”
The reflective writings remind us not to be complacent or casual. He calls upon the endurance and the commitment of our ancestors. We emerge from their seeds – tendrils, shoots, and leaves, with roots bound to the Earth. Manish’s work is meditative. He shares his spiritual practices, encouraging us to invoke a similar empathetic journey. The writing is straightforward, simple, and relatable. The tone is sad, lingering, yet hopeful, and at times even satirical. For how else can a writer shake us from the nonchalance of our precious existence?
The artwork by Sumitra Ahake, a gifted artist, further enhances the contemplative value of this book. Look deep inside each piece of Warli art embedded in seed and reflect on the message in the ink strokes. The artwork, poetry, and prose—all deserve undivided attention—consumed in whole or part. This book endorses the power of resilience and the need for individual awakening to develop a collective consciousness committed to nourishing the seed within us.
Grab your copy for a weekend journey into what we braced in 2020-2021. This book will make you ponder how we must approach 2022 and beyond, in the shadow of the unknown. Manish sums it up in one of his 77 poems:
“Life doesn’t care what we plan —
It gives us what we secretly long
To preserve our essence
In the middle of any storm”
Book: First Patients
Author: Rod Tanchanco
Genre: Medical NonFiction
Review Copy: Reedsy Discovery
Available at: Amazon.in
Recommended: Must Read
The pandemic years have re-instilled curiosity and questions about discovering treatments and vaccines. The book – First Patients by Rod Tanchanco – arrives at an opportune time to quench this curiosity. Rod has compiled a set of 10 stories around various events that led to fascinating and life-changing medical discoveries. From smallpox to AIDs, yellow fever to mold, these carefully selected stories talk about accidental deaths and accidental studies that changed the course of medical history.
The writing is impeccable and takes you back to the time of the incidents. The tone and texture of the stories are engaging and relevant to the timelines of several scientific breakthroughs. A storehouse of information, this book reflects meticulous research with utmost passion for the subject. The writer’s enthusiasm and fascination are evident.
We see how the world of sciences is not only plagued by doubt and dissing of ideas but also by infighting, jealousy, and lobbying. Maybe discoveries benefitting humans would have arrived earlier and with more precision if all had the interest of humanity foremost. While many erudite men clamor for accolades, actual heroes are the commoners who either come across discoveries or are the “First Patients” oft sacrificed on the table of science. Between human avarice and selfless dedication, the population of Earth has survived medical odds.
Rod says in the preface that he wrote this book with “enthrallment, awe, and disbelief that swept me as I probed the ordeal of real people caught in unique medical dilemmas.” There are no other appropriate words to rephrase why one must read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because I like to read about works of science and medicine. Even if you know all these stories, the depth and clarity of Rod’s narrative make the book a keepsake. Within each page, you will gain new insights into the field of medical care and knowledge. The book fills the gap by retelling “stories on the patients behind medical milestones” in the last three hundred years.
All the Mondays together
Piled high on the debris
Of restless weekends
Worried about tomorrow
Always in a race
Forever out of time
Our life has wings
Our destiny is in flight
Shoving, climbing, scraping
To the top, until the bell tolls!
Blue Pen Strokes 