Rachna Gupta’s ‘Kaleidoscope: The changing colours of love’ published by Authors Press presents 37 love poems in a very cyclical pattern epitomising the advent of love in one’s life, followed by a sudden estrangement and a hopeful return of love, in its own mysterious way. The book is divided into three distinct sections, each reflecting an emotional state in the course of love. The first section titled ‘The beginning of love’ has 15 poems; the second section titled ‘Separated by Miles’ also has 15 poems and the last section having 7 poems is titled ‘Love finds a Way’.
The book begins with the poet, in a subjective tone confessing about the new beginning of her conjugal relationship with her lover. The opening poem ‘A Fresh Start’ is replete with images of discovery, an implicit image of war (“heralded change”) and the image of institutionalised, religious acceptance of conjugality (“vows”).’Legitimizing Love’ continues in this strain, albeit a satiric one, dissecting the social hypocrisy associated with marriage (“same empty rules”) with poignant cynicism. ’Connected’ appearing as the first poem in the second section, deplores the waning of love as the two lovers are separated by distance and gradually estranged. ’Painful Love’ conforms to the afore-mentioned theme of estrangement and the bitter pain of impending, unavoidable separation. The last poem of the second section ‘Without You’ concludes with the eternal waiting for the return of the poet’s lover; until that restorative touch returns, the poet will die each day, again and again.
In the last section, ’Love Finds a Way’, the poet continuing in the subjective strain celebrates how faith and belief in love and the lover is ultimately consummated in marriage in poems like ‘Homecoming’ and ‘Believing in Love’. The book ends with the poet looking into the future with the hope of their love reigning supreme over everything, as the present becomes nothing more than a “mist on my spectacles” to the poet. The poet waits for her lover on the aisle, her hand perspiring to be warmed by touch, love asking to be immortalized.
Rachna Gupta maintains a very emotional tone throughout the book; her style being easy and elegant. Written in blank verse, her poems reveal her style of unhurried poetry, though it often tends to become repetitive. Her choice of words, undoubtedly, is simple, yet is saved from the glare of profanity by her control over the subject.
Book Details:
| Poet: | Rachna Gupta | ||
| Publisher: | Authorspress | Year of Publishing: | 2015 |
| ISBN-13: | 9788172739645 | ISBN-10: | 8172739648 |
| Cover: | Paperback | No. of Pages: | 64 |
| MRP: | Rs. 195 | Buy From: | ebay.in Amazon.in |
My Verdict
4
On the whole, one can read Rachna Gupta's Kaleidoscope to relive or sink into memories of love.
