Tag: poetry

  • Poetry: a beautiful creative craft

    Poetry: a beautiful creative craft

    Every poet, writer or storyteller has been asked some typical questions. In my last article, I tried to give my answer for one of them; “Why” of the writing. But for the past week, I have been thinking about a particular duality in the literary realm. Creativity and crafting. It’s another form of a classic dilemma just like “Chicken or the Egg”. The only difference here is that creativity and crafting are not struggling for who came first. They are struggling to maintain their importance or righteousness in poetry.

    Let’s begin at the beginning

    Creativity and crafting have been two loyal hands for her majesty, the queen Poetry ruling my mind. But her realm is facing an internal turmoil. These two counsel are trying to one up each other. This was triggered during a discussion at an event. Recently at an event of our regular literary meetup called साहित्यकट्टा, we celebrated a fantastic poet Shekhar Damodare from our group and Prose Publications published his poetry collection अक्षरांचे शब्द होता as a surprise to him. During this event, this debate of whether poetry written with pure creativity is the best or the crafting makes it better.

    Incidentally, yesterday I got a chance to ask this same question to another accomplished and prolific poetess Sampurna Chattergy during an exclusive author session “Getting Started with Poetry” of BlogchatterWritFest. Her reply on the issue kept the debate going in my mind. 

    Who’s the champion of the duel?

    So, this is how I witnessed this duel. There are purists in poetry too just like every other field. They look highly to a poem born out of the spontaneous bursts of creativity. I have no problem considering so highly of these poems. However the way they look down upon poems which have been edited, rewritten, crafted after the initial creative spontaneity. 

    On the contrary, there’s one more side on the other end of the extreme. They believe anyone can write a poem, they can teach poetry writing. These people are ignoring the fact that poetry is not just an arrangement of words in a particular order or set pattern. It has to originate from deep within. Poet has to see that poem within his or her mind. It takes some form and comes out on paper. If you ignore this part, all it remains is a mechanical robotic arrangement of words in some order which doesn’t have a soul.

    Non-duality of poetry

    What I personally believe is the realm of poetry is a true example of non-duality. It has to have both creativity and crafting. You can not craft if there’s no creative basis to polish upon. And you cannot write a complete, structured masterpiece poem purely on creativity (Excluding some exceptions). Meters, formats and forms of poetry demands that poet follow the precise words, syllable counts, and other grammar rules. These forms demand the use of crafting, editing and rewriting. 

    In a galaxy of Marathi literary legends, Keshavsut, is one name which you can’t miss. We consider him as the originator of modern marathi poetry. Tutari (तुतारी) is one of his most famous poems. He had written and rewritten it several times before it got published in 1893. When such legends are not shunning crafting away, who are we to look down upon? On the other hand, we also should not forget that only crafting will not create a masterpiece like Tutari

    Let’s make a truce between these two hands of the queen Poetry and enjoy the joys of her people. These poems are pure bliss in every form, format and language. 


    This was a very inspiring session personally for me and I am looking forward to upcoming sessions of BlogchatterWritFest. I have written this post as part of BlogchatterWritFest.

  • बखर – Chronicle of The Past: A Photo-series

    बखर – Chronicle of The Past: A Photo-series

    Bhuleshwar, is a secluded hill temple dedicated to lord Shiva. It is considered that mythologically the temple is built by the Pandavas but historically it is renovated by Yadava kings around 1230 AD. Restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 were relaxed recently in Maharashtra and temples are now open. Hence, we took the opportunity to visit this temple on one of the last Sunday of November. The whole ambiance of the temple complex was serene. It had that cold calmness of classic Shiva temples which I notice in all of them, regardless of how big or small the temple is. This post is a photo-series of my experience in the temple.

    Every wall and façade of the temple is ornamented with beautiful sculptures. Because of this, the temple is a treasure trove for art and photography enthusiast. Sadly, many of them were vandalized and broken. Even though, the light entering the complex was making a very peculiar angle enhancing the beauty of those broken sculptures. The whole setting with the light effects, shattered sculptures and that humid cold air in the temple sown the seed of this poem in my heart. It took me a week to bring it together in a form of a photo-series.

    बखर – Chronicle of The Past

    As the subject demands, it is yet another ‘black-n-white’ photo-series. This photo-series is very different than earlier two. It is accompanied by a poem. One stanza for each of the photos. Hope you will enjoy the series below.

    Complete poem

    बखर
    ~~~
    मागची पाने उलटली वाचली तेव्हा बखर,
    खंत थोडी वाटली मी टाकली जेव्हा नजर…
    भंगल्या होत्या जरी का गौरवाच्या या खुणा,
    आमुच्या रक्तात भिनली आजही त्यांची बखर…
    जाऊनी गगनास भिडली गोपुरे आणि कळस,
    गाजविले शौर्य आम्ही घोर हे झाले समर…
    मारण्या आधी भरारी त्या उंच उंच अंबरी,
    या भुईची वाटली मी एकदा घ्यावी खबर…
    ~~~
    आदित्य साठे

    From my earlier visit

    I had visited the place once before, about 5 years ago. It was an amazing experience in itself. I could capture so many breath-taking photos of those gorgeous sculptures around the walls of this beautiful temple complex. I am adding few of those photos from my past visit for you guys, and I am sure you will enjoy them too.

    As it is just about 45 km from Pune, on Pune – Solapur Highway, it is a one-day trip which will guaranty you the serenity, calmness, and spiritual connection. So, whenever you guys are down in Pune, or nearby city, do visit the temple.

  • आठवण

    Athvan_text


    आठवण नाही काढत तुझी,
    पण तुला विसरावं कसं हेही कळत नाही,
    दिवस निसटतो म्हणा तसा तासातासाने, पण रात्र, रात्र सरता सरत नाही, जाणवत राहते क्षणाक्षणाने.
    माहिती आहे, आपल्यातला दुरावा आता कधीहि कमी होणे नाही, तू पोचली आहेस त्या मुक्कामावर.
    पण आजही सकाळी उठल्यावर तू करायची त्या वाफाळत्या चहाचा गंध कधीकधी दरवळतो खोलीभर.
    कानाला मशीन नसलं तरी ऐकू येतं तुझं मंजुळ आवाजातलं गुणगुणनं.
    डोळ्याचा चष्मा मानेभोवती दोरी टाकून पोटावर लटकत असला तरी स्वच्छ दिसतं. तुझं उतारवयातलं मउसूत सुरकुती लावण्य.
    पोराबाळांच यथासांग करून तृप्त अंतकरणाने गेलीस निघून अथांगाच्या वाटेवर.
    निदान थांबायचं तरी माझ्यासाठी. काही गोष्टी निस्तरल्या की मीही निघणारच होतो.
    पण तोवर तुझ्या अशा आभासी वावरासोबत जगतो आहे.
    आठवण नाही काढत तुझी,
    पण तुला विसरावं कसं हेही कळत नाही….


    Poem recited by Aditya Sathe


    Phonetics in Roman Script

    Āṭhavaṇa nāhī kāḍhata tujhī, 
    paṇa tulā visarāvaṁ kasaṁ hēhī kaḷata nāhī,
    divasa nisaṭatō mhaṇā tasā tāsātāsānē, 
    paṇa rātra, rātra saratā sarata nāhī,Jāṇavata rāhatē kṣaṇākṣaṇānē.
    Māhitī āhē, āpalyātalā durāvā ātā kadhīhi kamī hōṇē nāhī, 
    tū pōchalī āhēsa tyā mukkāmāvara. 
    Paṇa ājahī sakāḷī uṭhalyāvara tū karāyacī tyā vāphāḷatyā 
    chahāchā gandha kadhīkadhī daravaḷatō khōlībhara.
    Kānālā maśīna nasalaṁ tarī aikū yētaṁ 
    tujhaṁ man̄juḷa āvājātalaṁ guṇaguṇanaṁ.
    Ḍōḷyāchā caṣmā mānēbhōvatī dōrī ṭākūna pōṭāvara laṭakata asalā tarī 
    svaccha disataṁ, tujhaṁ utāravayātalaṁ ma'usūta surakutī lāvaṇya.
    Pōrābāḷān̄cha yathāsāṅga karūna tr̥upta antakaraṇānē gēlīsa nighūna 
    athāṅgāchyā vāṭēvara. 
    Nidāna thāmbāyacaṁ tarī mājhyāsāṭhī. 
    Kāhī gōṣṭī nistaralyā kī mīhī nighaṇāracha hōtō. 
    Paṇa tōvara tujhyā aśā ābhāsī vāvarāsōbata jagatō āhē.
    Āṭhavaṇa nāhī kāḍhata tujhī, 
    paṇa tulā visarāvaṁ kasaṁ hēhī kaḷata nāhī....

    Rough English Translation (non-poetic)

    Your memories don’t haunt me, but I am clueless about how to forget you.

    A day moves by the hour hand of a clock but night, it makes its way by each second.
    I know, we can never breach the distance between us. You have reached that destination.
    But even today, the room gets filled with the aroma of a morning tea that you used to brew. I can listen to the humming in your beautiful voice even if I am not using the hearing aid. I can clearly see your wrinkled silky smooth beauty even though my lenses are hanging on around my neck.
    You have left for the journey of internity after finishing all the duties of a good lady of the house, but you could have waited for me. Even I am preparing to leave as soon as I finish some pending works.
    But till then, I have to live with your shadows around me.
    Your memories don’t haunt me, but I am clueless about how to forget you.

    I am taking my Alexa Rank to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa. My current ranking is 2,660,059. I am trying to improve on this. Hope you all enjoy my Marathi poems. You can find my other posts in this campaign here. I would like to thank Blogchatter for the support you guys extend to us.
  • न लगे सांगणे

    Na lage sangane - text


    विलगले ओठ अन, पसरले चांदणे,
    लुब्ध झालो मी असा, न लगे सांगणे.

    बरसली वीज ही खोल नेत्रातूनी,
    घायाळ हा मी उभा, न लगे सांगणे.

    माळली ती फुले, दाट केसांतूनी
    गंधाळलो मी पुरा, न लगे सांगणे

    पाहतो वाट मी, प्रेम ये बरसुनी,
    तरसलो मी आता, न लगे सांगणे


    Poem recited by Aditya Sathe


    Phonetics in Roman Script

    Vilagalē ōṭha ana, pasaralē chāndaṇē,
    lubdha jhālō mī asā, na lagē sāṅgaṇē.
    
    Barasalī vīja hī khōla nētrātūnī,
    ghāyāḷa hā mī ubhā, na lagē sāṅgaṇē.
    
    Māḷalī tī phulē, dāṭa kēsāntūnī
    gandhāḷalō mī purā, na lagē sāṅgaṇē
    
    pāhatō vāṭa mī, prēma yē barasunī,
    tarasalō mī ātā, na lagē sāṅgaṇē

    Rough English Translation (non-poetic)

    A smile spread on your lips as they apart, and one doesn’t need to tell how enchanted I am.

    When you glanced at me lightening struck me, and one doesn’t need to tell how smitten I am.

    You put those flowers in your wavy hair, and one doesn’t need to tell how fragranced I am.

    Now I am waiting for the showers of love, and one doesn’t need to tell how much I longed for (it).


    I am taking my Alexa Rank to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa. My current ranking is 2,857,816. I am trying to improve on this. Hope you all enjoy my Marathi poems. You can find my other posts in this campaign here. I would like to thank Blogchatter for the support you guys extend to us.

  • तो

    To_Text


    आजूबाजूला घड्याळाच्या काट्यावर चालणारी मानवी यंत्रे घेऊन,
    शहराच्या दाट लोकवस्तीतल्या एका उंच इमारतीत राहतो तो.
    दिवसभर चालणारे दावे, आकडेमोडी आणि देवाणघेवाण बघत,
    आपल्या मनाला यांचा संसर्ग होऊ नये यासाठी निग्रहाच्या भिंती बांधतो तो.
    सकाळी पहिल्या चहाबरोबर भोवतालच्या व्यवहारी रुक्षपणाला जाग येते,
    आणि त्याला हद्दीबाहेर ठेवण्यासाठी त्याच्या बुरजातली जागा पकडतो तो.
    टाइपिंगचा खडखडाट, फोन आणि मोबाईल च्या घणघणाटा पासून लांब जात,
    त्याच्या मनातल्या वाद्यवृंदाच्या मंजुळ सुरावटींचा आवाज ऐकतो तो.
    हे भयाण वाळवंट भोवतालच्या कोटाच्या बाहेर ठेवण्याचा लढा दिवसभर सुरूच असतो,
    संध्याकाळ होते, खडखडाट, घणघणाट, देवाणघेवाण, हेवेदावे, आकडेमोड, शांत होते, आणि मगच बुरुजावरून उतरतो तो.
    तिन्हीसांजेपासून पुन्हा सकाळ होईस्तोवरची अखंड रात्र त्याची असते, एकाकी,
    पण बाजूच्या कुंपणावरच्या एकट्याच असणाऱ्या पारिजातकासारखा बहरतो तो.


    Phonetics in Roman Script

    Ājūbājūlā ghaḍyāḷāchyā kāṭyāvara chālaṇārī mānavī yantrē ghē’ūna,
    śaharāchyā dāṭa lōkavastītalyā ēkā un̄cha imāratīta rāhatō tō.
    Divasabhara chālaṇārē dāvē, ākaḍēmōḍī āṇi dēvāṇaghēvāṇa baghata,
    āpalyā manālā yān̄chā sansarga hō’ū nayē yāsāṭhī nigrahāchyā bhintī bāndhatō tō.
    Sakāḷī pahilyā chahābarōbara bhōvatālacyā vyavahārī rukṣapaṇālā jāga yētē,
    āṇi tyālā haddībāhēra ṭhēvaṇyāsāṭhī tyāchyā burajātalī jāgā pakaḍatō tō.
    Ṭā’ipiṅgachā khaḍakhaḍāṭa, phōna āṇi mōbā’īla chyā ghaṇaghaṇāṭā pāsūna lāmba jāta,
    tyāchyā manātalyā vādyavr̥ndāchyā man̄juḷa surāvaṭīn̄chā āvāja aikatō tō.
    Hē bhayāṇa vāḷavaṇṭa bhōvatālachyā kōṭācyā bāhēra ṭhēvaṇyāchā laḍhā divasabhara surūcha asatō,
    sandhyākāḷa hōtē, khaḍakhaḍāṭa, ghaṇaghaṇāṭa, dēvāṇaghēvāṇa, hēvēdāvē, ākaḍēmōḍa, śānta hōtē, āṇi magacha burujāvarūna utaratō tō.
    Tinhīsān̄jēpāsūna punhā sakāḷa hō’īstōvaracī akhaṇḍa rātra tyāchī asatē, ēkākī,
    paṇa bājūchyā kumpaṇāvarachyā ēkaṭyācha asaṇāṟyā pārijātakāsārakhā baharatō tō.


    Poem recited by Aditya Sathe


    Rough English Translation (non-poetic)

    He lives in a highrise in a crowded part of the city, surrounded by human machines running on the clock. He has built a fortress around him to keep out the contamination of quarrels, under the table transactions and calculations which he witnesses daily. This all starts with the first cup of tea of the day and he takes his place on the battlement of the fortress. He enjoys the symphony in his mind played only for him by his mind-orchestra and ignores keystrokes of typing, a ringing of mobile and landlines. As the dusk approaches, all the cluttering keystrokes, ringings, transactions, quarrels and calculations fade out and finally, he gets down from the battlement. From dusk till next morning, entire night is his, his alone. Lonely, yet he blooms just like a lonely “Parijatak” standing on the fence.


    I am taking my Alexa Rank to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa. My current ranking is 3,130,542. I am trying to improve on this. Hope you all enjoy my Marathi poems. You can find my other posts in this campaign here. I would like to thank Blogchatter for the support you guys extend to us.

  • पुढला पाऊस

    textgram_1535783224


    वाटतं की उघडून द्यावीत मनाची कवाडे, घ्यावा थोडा मोकळा श्वास,
    पण लगेच मन आवरतं घेतो, कारण सोबत तुझी आठवण येईल खास.
    कितीदा वाटतं द्यावीत झटकून जाळी जळमटं, झाडावा पाचोळा,
    पण नजर पडते पाचोळ्यातून फुललेल्या सोनचाफ्यावर आणि आठवतो या चाफ्याच्या जन्माचा सोहळा,
    खरंच, हे असे अनेक सोहळे डोळे भरून पाहिलेत आपण जोडीनं,
    चाफ्याचा जन्म, गुलाबाची पहिली कळी, जाईच्या वेलाने पकडलेलं चढावाचं पाहिलं बोट, एक न अनेक.
    परवाच बाहेर पडलो होतो अंगणात, काठी टेकत टेकत दोन चार महिन्यांनी,
    माजलय आता चहूकडे गवत, चांगलं वीतभर झालंय,
    असतीस न आत्ता इथे, तर बाजूची जागा मोकळी केली असतीस कापत्या हातांनी, बसल्या बसल्या.
    मी मात्र वाढू देतोय त्याला, त्याची पातीही आणतात परत अंगणात तुझ्या आठवणींना.
    पाऊस सरेलच आता, गवतही पिवळं पडेल, उन्हात पुढे करपूनदेखील जाईल.
    पुढल्या पावसात कुठून परत येईल देव जाणे, पण…
    पण यंदाच्या पावसात बरीच पडझड होईल घराची, पुढचा पाऊस बघेलस वाटत नाही, घर आणि मीही…


    Phonetics in Roman Script

    Vāṭataṁ kī ughaḍūna dyāvīta manāchī kavāḍē, ghyāvā thōḍā mōkaḷā śvāsa, 
    paṇa lagēcha mana āvarataṁ ghētō, kāraṇa sōbata tujhī āṭhavaṇa yē'īla khāsa.
    Kitīdā vāṭataṁ dyāvīta jhaṭakūna jāḷī jaḷamaṭaṁ, jhāḍāvā pāchōḷā,
    paṇa najara paḍatē pāchōḷyātūna phulalēlyā sōnachāphyāvara āṇi 
    āṭhavatō yā chāphyācyā janmācā sōhaḷā,
    kharan̄cha, hē asē anēka sōhaḷē ḍōḷē bharūna pāhilēta āpaṇa jōḍīnaṁ,
    Chāphyācā janma, gulābāchī pahilī kaḷī, jā'īchyā vēlānē pakaḍalēlaṁ 
    chaḍhāvāchaṁ pāhilaṁ bōṭa, ēka na anēka. 
    Paravācha bāhēra paḍalō hōtō aṅgaṇāta, kāṭhī ṭēkata ṭēkata dōna chāra 
    mahin'yānnī, 
    mājalaya ātā chahūkaḍē gavata, chāṅgalaṁ vītabhara jhālanya, 
    asatīsa na āttā ithē, tara bājūchī jāgā mōkaḷī kēlī asatīsa kāpatyā hātānnī,
    basalyā basalyā. 
    Mī mātra vāḍhū dētōya tyālā, tyāchī pātīhī āṇatāta parata aṅgaṇāta 
    tujhyā āṭhavaṇīnnā.
    Pā'ūsa sarēlaca ātā, gavatahī pivaḷaṁ paḍēla, 
    unhāta puḍhē karapūnadēkhīla jā'īla. 
    Puḍhalyā pāvasāta kuṭhūna parata yē'īla dēva jāṇē, paṇa... 
    Paṇa yandācyā pāvasāta barīca paḍajhaḍa hō'īla gharāchī, 
    puḍhachā pā'ūsa baghēlasa vāṭata nāhī, ghara āṇi mīhī...

    Poem recited by Aditya Sathe


    Rough English Translation (non-poetic)

    So many times, I think of opening all the windows of my mind, to breath the fresh air,
    but I stop myself because that freshness will bring back your memories for sure.
    I feel like cleaning the cobwebs and sweep the fallen leaves,
    But at the same time, I see the “Chaafa” tree blossomed through those dry leaves, and remember the celebration of its birth.
    (Do you) remember? Many such celebrations we witnessed together.
    Chaafa’s birth, first bud of our Gulab, first twine of Jaai which caught the line. And many more.
    Just a few days before, I walked out into our courtyard, slowly with the help of my walking stick. Must be three-four months since my last visit.
    There are weeds and grass has taken over. Even grown above handspan.
    Even though your hands shake, you would have cleared the area around you by now if you were here.
    But I am letting it grow, at least with them, your memories flourish in our courtyard.
    But now, rain will reside, grass will turn yellow, might even get burnt in the scorching heat later. But god knows how it will return in the next rain.
    But much more will collapse of this home. There won’t be the next monsoon to look at, for this home, and for me too…


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