I have always been fascinated by poetry. Kabir’s dohas (couplets) have charmed me and have taught me many a life lesson. Works of poets like Rudyard Kipling, William Wordsworth, Robert Frost, W. H. Davies and Alfred Lord Tennyson have inspired me. I have admired their writings and have marveled at the wonderful ways in which they have captured various human emotions and beauty.

Poems make us happy and sometimes sad. They provide us comfort when we are desolate. They offer us hope when we are in despair. They provide us cheer when we need it the most. Thus, poems are magical!

I have always believed that having the ability to write poetry is a blessing. My friend and former student, Sameera Kesiraju, has written some beautiful poems. Whenever we met, we would discuss what she had been writing. In one of our conversations, she urged me to write poetry saying that it was very easy and that I could do it with ease! I remember having smiled and thought that she must be joking. Yet, one day, I suddenly discovered that I could write poetry and that indeed it was easy!

I have been writing poetry for a while now. I am enjoying every moment of it. I must say that the experience is exhilarating!

Here is a poem that captures my family’s reaction to my writing poetry.

My Family’s Reaction to my Writing Poetry

I told my brother,

“A verse is playing in my head

I better write it down before I go to bed.”

Said my brother,

“ I can see that you are going from bad to worse.

Pray tell me why do you want to write a verse?!”

My parents said,

“It’s good to keep trying something new.

We never knew that there was a poet in you!

Make your mark in the literary world,

Go forth and let your talent unfold.”

Encouraged by their words, I wrote one verse in style,

And then another joined in, as if it were waiting in the aisle!

Words flowed effortlessly, as though from a hidden store

I could see that it was His way of asking me to do more.

Thus, I discovered my love for poetry.

So now, for better or for worse,

I am taking to the verse!