Sublime Shadows of Life is a comment on life, its turbulent curves and relationships. It envisions people through the prism of poetry. I, you, he, we and they are universal symbols which highlight 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, … upon, the boulders of exploitation and discrimination may block your path but those who tread on undeterred are always successful.
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Sublime Shadows of Life is the fourth book of poetry that I’ve read by author Balroop Singh. Although I don’t ready poetry regularly, I often find myself in need of something different each month, so I look for lyrical prose and commentaries on life. Singh’s treasures offer just that, and this time, it had a bit of a darker side than normal.
Life is not always fair. We experience pain and injustice. As Singh tells us in an early poem, we brood alone. This one forced me to think about the words… why exactly do so many of us keep our feelings inside, fearful to share them? Childhood trauma? Shyness? Lack of knowing how to safely express without fear of retribution? Brooding is the perfect word, and I pictured our poet, our narrator, sharing his/her feelings as a way to brood alone yet brood together. In her paradox of a gilded or golden cage, more truths became evident. We lock ourselves behind intangible / invisible bars because it is both safer and a way to punish ourselves. Are they golden because there is a glimmer of hope that we can escape, or gilded because under the surface is something less shiny?
Singh is an analytical writer. Her word choice is always on point… sometimes I wonder whether it comes naturally for her to speak in such beautiful imagery or is it through methodical intuitiveness that she can conjure the emotions we all feel? She presents the idea of a valley of happiness… how many of us think happiness is normally at the peak? This is an area where we must re-read her poetry a few times to find the middle ground and introduce our own subjectivity into interpretation. It’s a wonderful experience to connect on these levels with an author and her words.
Full of pain, these poems are darker than normal and they focus on the tyranny we often feel trapped inside our own minds… but then there is a swift pendulum swing to the positive, albeit for a short period. This is life. Highs and lows. Sometimes we’re more depressed or fearful than others. I am glad to see the range in her narrator’s emotions and thoughts… it’s a good representation of reality for many people who are caught inside their own head and dilemmas, be they real or imaginary. Sometimes our minds make drama seem more than it is, but at others, like in many of these stanzas, there is real pain creeping out, asking for help and guidance.
I liken the message in this book to the flight of a baby bird… the poet shares the journey to grow and become one on your own, but you will fail on occasion. Sometimes you drop from the nest, hard and fast, and at others, someone can pick you up. I leave you with perhaps my favorite memory in the poem – the debt I carry. We all have this emotional package of history, and how we choose to share it or learn from it defines who or what we can become. Singh’s book made me think a lot last night… and I saved writing this review until this morning to let the words flow more freely. A solid 4.5 stars.
Sublime Shadows of Life is a beautiful poetry collection. Balroop Singh reflected on the painful and distressful past shadows found in unfulfilling desires, disappointment, confusion, discrimination, rejection, grieving, lost passion and loneliness. The poems voice the longing for education, justice, friendship, love and happiness yet life was caged in with clipped wings. The hope and attachment brought anguish and painful fall to cause withdrawal and detachment. The poet resolved that happiness is to smile at the shadows, find positive strength from within, pick up the threads of life, and move on to the success of future.
The poet skillfully depicts her personal and observed experiences which bear universal applications. Readers will enjoy the rich poems with deep emotions.
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The verse in this book is beautifully written and leaves the reader with the feeling they’ve been given a glimpse into the author’s soul. A glimpse the author freely shares. It’s also a reminder that there are places in this world were life for a woman is a dreary existence at best.
I especially enjoyed reading this at the end of the day when I could let the words flow over and envelope me.