Critical appreciation of my poem Something I Look At-43

 Here is the critical appreciation of my poem "SOMETHING I LOOK AT-43" by non-other than eminent poet and internationally acclaimed literally critic Prof Cijo Joseph Chennelil.  

Thanks and gratitude sir for your brilliant interpretation of the poem

Dear Smruti Ranjaniji,

Something I Look At-43" is a poem that narrates about a world which is in the whirlpool of tensions, worries and concerns from one end to the next. The poem commences with an optimistic note wherein this world is described as a world of pure joy and happiness, the human beings in this world enjoy life in an overwhelming manner day in and day out. This world is also suffused with many amenities and facilities and we all live in the comfort zones of this world. This world also can be termed as a paradise because of the comfort level, people come across this world. But the rosy picture of this world is countered by a reality check regarding the real status of this world in relation to values, ideologies and other concepts. Today the world witnesses a situation wherein peace is destroyed, war is taken to the forefront, the conflicts are resolved through yet another conflict and life is put through the quagmire of the highest magnitude. Today we are also engaged in clandestine wars to set scores. Our society is divided into thousands upon thousands of divisions where different stakeholders clash with malicious intentions. Today our society is also immersed in bigoted belief systems, discriminations and inconsistencies. Fundamentalistic ideologies do dot our landscape in an enormous way. Today the world is ripped apart by social, political, religious, economic, moral, ethical and environmental ambiguities. The cultured nature of human society is gone with the winds once and forever. The different modes of terrorism weigh down upon the humanity in different ways which can only give our society a billion cuts. The treatment that we accord to our old parents is horrendous and appalling, they are often locked up in the open prisons of their old age homes, they are not given the dues they richly deserve in their lives. These old people always encounter isolation and alienation in the society due to their ages. To make matters worse, we are even ready to forgo the perpetuation of the next generation, we don't yearn for the next generation solely because we want to protect our comfort level intact, yes by doing such a thing, we place an axe at our own roots. We live like machines in this world, our life is always primed by the virtual realities here on this earth. We also condone injustices and inequalities in this world through our silent capitulation to such trends and tendencies taking place in the society. In order to enjoy life here on earth, we should have a mindset of positive attitude and open mentality, but unfortunately, many of us don't have such quality-oriented hearts. Kudos to you for composing such a poem of magnificent and forthright nature. 

Written by Cijo Joseph Channel Associate Professor Kristu Jyoti College of Management and Technology Chethipuzha Changanassary Kottayam District Kerala India All Copyrights Reserved@ On 9th July 2017.

SOMETHING I LOOK AT-43

BY-SMRUTI RANJAN MOHANTY

This world

so beautiful to live in

with all the comforts

luxuries and amenities

life seems so fascinating

nothing short of a paradise 

But where is happiness, peace 

that throbbing heart

loving eyes and silent tranquil mind

be it in a war or proxy war

and its aftermath

be it in our devastated social life

be it in the fanaticism of religious zealots

be it in a world divided on racial

linguistic and parochial loyalties

be it in the uncivilised and

the barbarian attitude of civilized man

be it in terrorism or in our sick mind

and raped conscience

it is humanity that silently suffers

Where is the face of humanity with

the relationship at the  lowest ebb

old parents struggling for their death

in asylums, old age homes

in their deserted lonely confinement

with no near one to look after

,

Too much of obsession with career

so-called better life

and the lure of comforts made us inhuman

to the extent, we hesitate to

recognise our own blood

and one will think thrice

before begetting a child of his own

We are more evident 

in our spineless attitude towards injustice

and the way we look at these

we are more like machines

devoid of all that is finer

having no time for other

love and reciprocation

Where is life and its beauty

to conceive it

one has to have a heart

that truly beats 

sadly many of us do not have it

copyright@smrutiranjan 28.5.2017

smrutiweb.wordpress.com

smrutitanuja.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/titutiku/