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Poems that tell a story

When I sat purposefully to go through the book I received from Khaitan, I became a critic rather than being a reader. My thoughts were similar to those strict poetry editors’, who criticise your writings in and out. I was missing the emotions and just concentrating on the words. 

Just as I realised that it would not work, I stopped reading after three poems. The truth being, I could not get the meaning of the book’s title, Straight From My Heart. When you speak directly from within your heart, seldom you care about the norms and regulations, rather you just go on. 

Let’s start with Khaitan’s very first poem in the book, Motherly Love which stands true because one cannot compare mother’s love to any of the possible metaphors and similes. Khaitan has put it beautifully in his words. 
Likewise, he goes on describing different phases and events in our life. He talks about friendship, he talks about siblings, he writes about Bhabhi (the elder brother’s wife), which gives his collection an Indian touch. The Indian poets, who write in English, often confide themselves in a room on a very high pedestal and tend to ignore the beauty of Indian life. Khaitan has not done so. He has written for Indians and has maintained so without the urge of following the footsteps of Milton, a move that will be liked by many.

With a total of 20 poems in his beautifully decorated book, Khaitan has written about love, life, and happiness along with all the possible aspects of life. With a notable simplicity, he is capable of conveying the sensations: 
“She hugged me, a feeling more precious than jade”.

You can anticipate what is coming in the poem only by reading the title. Some of them such as – Family means everything, Smile because you can, and The Child in me. 

Poetry fanatics, looking for something different will not be disappointed by Khaitan’s work. He has kept things simple so that the reader gets the maximum of the hidden meaning, retaining its ‘feel’. Yes, he will not take you to a trance with Homeric similes but he is surely set to compel you to feel the realities of life, by making it clear that “life is made by the small fragments of happiness and you need to smile, because you can.”

Now that I have finished the book as a reader, I am satisfied. I feel like I have just directly spoken to the poet and had a discussion on things. 
Khaitan has made a good attempt by telling the life-story of a Boston-educated gentleman. 

This small, beautiful and pocket size ‘book of life’ is surely worth a read for those who look forward to reading something to which they can connect as well.  

The author is the editor in chief at Ashvamegh International Journal
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