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LAYERS OF FLICKERING LIGHTS
This is a collection of 101 poems. In author's words...
To listen to the mind or to the heart ? I am sure most of us, at some time or the other in our life, have been confronted with this question, which was extremely difficult and challenging to answer. The heart, guided by the eternal soul, is happy to be in its own state. If one does not heed its feeble voice, it stays in its cocoon, reminding off and on that it does exist. For all practical purposes, it shuts itself.
Then how does one traverse this gap?
For this, one has to perform his/her own journey, so that the gap diminishes and through the heart one reaches the guiding light or the flame called the soul. However, to permeate those layers of flab of negligence and reach the heart is a tough and arduous journey indeed. Before one can touch it, the mind keeps flickering, passing through various phases, moods and moments. The intensity, the reach, and the steadiness, all three vary. Sometimes it just moves to and fro, other times it quivers, at times it flutters and vibrates till it reaches a state of permanent equilibrium with the heart.
Only the one who is determined and steadfast on this path, and has acquired the needed clarity of his goal and vision, is able to finally reach this balance. Otherwise, it so happens that most tend to get lost in the path.
In this book, I have tried to describe the voyage to the ultimate equilibrium through poetry.
To listen to the mind or to the heart ? I am sure most of us, at some time or the other in our life, have been confronted with this question, which was extremely difficult and challenging to answer. The heart, guided by the eternal soul, is happy to be in its own state. If one does not heed its feeble voice, it stays in its cocoon, reminding off and on that it does exist. For all practical purposes, it shuts itself.
Then how does one traverse this gap?
For this, one has to perform his/her own journey, so that the gap diminishes and through the heart one reaches the guiding light or the flame called the soul. However, to permeate those layers of flab of negligence and reach the heart is a tough and arduous journey indeed. Before one can touch it, the mind keeps flickering, passing through various phases, moods and moments. The intensity, the reach, and the steadiness, all three vary. Sometimes it just moves to and fro, other times it quivers, at times it flutters and vibrates till it reaches a state of permanent equilibrium with the heart.
Only the one who is determined and steadfast on this path, and has acquired the needed clarity of his goal and vision, is able to finally reach this balance. Otherwise, it so happens that most tend to get lost in the path.
In this book, I have tried to describe the voyage to the ultimate equilibrium through poetry.
134 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2013
4 people want to read
About the author
Neelam Saxena Chandra
85 books102 followersNeelam Saxena Chandra continues to break new ground with every book she publishes. Known for her simple yet eloquent language, she creates emotional connections with her readers. Her motivational poems and live solo poetry presentations on Facebook have garnered over 8 million views. She has graced numerous national and international platforms, including SAARC, Sahitya Akademi, Jashn-e-Adab, Poets Across Borders, and USA Radio. She has also been featured on media platforms like Doordarshan, Doordarshan Sahyadri, and in leading newspapers such as The Hindu, Dainik Bhaskar, Amar Ujala, and The New Indian Express. Four of her books were launched at the prestigious NCPA, Mumbai.
An officer with Govt of India, Neelam holds a degree in Engineering from VNIT and diplomas in IM&HRD and Finance. She further honed her financial expertise with a summer course at the London School of Economics. Her prolific literary career includes 7 novels, 9 short story collections, 46 poetry collections, and 15 children’s books, with more than 2,000 of her works published in various journals and magazines. Bilingual in English and Hindi, she holds a record with the Limca Book of Records (2015) for the highest number of publications in a year.
Neelam's accolades are numerous. She has won awards in competitions organized by the American Embassy and Poetry Council of India. Her children’s writing has earned recognition from the Children’s Book Trust, and her work has been honored with the Sohanlal Dwivedi Puraskar for children’s literature by the Maharashtra State Hindi Sahitya Akademi. Other notable awards include Bharat Nirman Literary Award, Rabindranath Tagore International Poetry Award, and the Premchand Award by the Ministry of Railways (twice). In 2021, one of her poems was placed 7th in a contest by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness, USA). In 2014, Forbes listed her among the 78 most popular authors in India, and she recently received the Reuel Lifetime Achievement Award from The Significant League.
Her bestselling works include the short story collections Lines of Fate, The Chiseled World, and Rang Bhara Tohfa; the Hindi poetry books Kai Basant Dekhe Hain Maine, Tilism-e-Zindagi, and Moh Se Bandhi Main; the novels The Red Diary and Karmic Threads; and English poetry collections such as Splinters of a Broken Mirror, Garden of Fragility, Beneath the Dead Skin, and The Lost Mint Taste.
Neelam’s writing spans a variety of themes, including motivational, social, soulful, romantic, and nature-centric reflections. She finds deep philosophical connections between human life and the elements of nature—plants, rivers, and mountains—and explores life’s meaning through these metaphors.
Connect with Neelam Saxena Chandra
Website: neelamsaxenachandra.com
Facebook: Neelam Saxena Poet
Instagram: @neelamsaxenapoet
YouTube: Neelam Saxena Poet
Twitter: @chandra_neelam
An officer with Govt of India, Neelam holds a degree in Engineering from VNIT and diplomas in IM&HRD and Finance. She further honed her financial expertise with a summer course at the London School of Economics. Her prolific literary career includes 7 novels, 9 short story collections, 46 poetry collections, and 15 children’s books, with more than 2,000 of her works published in various journals and magazines. Bilingual in English and Hindi, she holds a record with the Limca Book of Records (2015) for the highest number of publications in a year.
Neelam's accolades are numerous. She has won awards in competitions organized by the American Embassy and Poetry Council of India. Her children’s writing has earned recognition from the Children’s Book Trust, and her work has been honored with the Sohanlal Dwivedi Puraskar for children’s literature by the Maharashtra State Hindi Sahitya Akademi. Other notable awards include Bharat Nirman Literary Award, Rabindranath Tagore International Poetry Award, and the Premchand Award by the Ministry of Railways (twice). In 2021, one of her poems was placed 7th in a contest by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness, USA). In 2014, Forbes listed her among the 78 most popular authors in India, and she recently received the Reuel Lifetime Achievement Award from The Significant League.
Her bestselling works include the short story collections Lines of Fate, The Chiseled World, and Rang Bhara Tohfa; the Hindi poetry books Kai Basant Dekhe Hain Maine, Tilism-e-Zindagi, and Moh Se Bandhi Main; the novels The Red Diary and Karmic Threads; and English poetry collections such as Splinters of a Broken Mirror, Garden of Fragility, Beneath the Dead Skin, and The Lost Mint Taste.
Neelam’s writing spans a variety of themes, including motivational, social, soulful, romantic, and nature-centric reflections. She finds deep philosophical connections between human life and the elements of nature—plants, rivers, and mountains—and explores life’s meaning through these metaphors.
Connect with Neelam Saxena Chandra
Website: neelamsaxenachandra.com
Facebook: Neelam Saxena Poet
Instagram: @neelamsaxenapoet
YouTube: Neelam Saxena Poet
Twitter: @chandra_neelam
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 18, 2014
An excellent collection of poems. Loved each and every poem.
January 18, 2014
A deep realization dawned upon me as I kept reading the poems. I could very well understand what the poet wanted to say. Wonderful!
January 18, 2014
A mind boggling collection of poems. Loved them.
December 6, 2014
The poetess explores her self and writes well her thoughts that help her find herself. Not just her, the reader too is being led into the path of self realization. Certain poems are thought provoking !
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews