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Amaranthine
Poems of love, loss and remembering.
88 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2024
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About the author
Anupam Patra
2 books7 followers'Promises of a firefly' is Anupam’s debut book. His second book Amaranthine is a collection of poems.
He can be reached at anupampatra2017@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 1, 2024
Honouring the Long-Lost yet Unforgettable..
After reading what has been beautifully and suitably named as 'Amaranthine', one is brought to the realization that there is always going to be something unfading and undying about the memories, love, and longing that this book is all about. The book is a snuggly ode to the ones never forgotten in love, no matter the distance, drudgery and ever pervasive death.
The torment and longing found in 'Mausoleum of Promises', 'Imsen', 'Tsering' and 'Inheritance of Desire' will only make lovers revisit lanes of their own suffering and unfulfilled desires. The poems will certainly resonate deep with anyone who has loved and lost, especially the ones who cannot find solace and tend to sink in void of unfulfilled love.
'Ferry', elicited the desire to be longed so earnestly. The sincerity and simplicity in the words would stir some hidden chords and touch the soul . The cry for solitude in 'Encryption' was my personal favorite. The body shuddered with that tingling sensation when you know someone has captured your feelings so precisely that you instantly marvel and feel one with the soul that has shared your essence in some way. Another favorite being 'Homecoming', describing the grief the demise of a loved one often leaves us in. It so poignantly captures the confusion and shock of the surviving spouse who has lost his companion of decades. The line 'your heart is in your feet' in the poem Traveller will stay with me forever. The words instantly gave a sense of worth to those ever-wandering souls, including mine, and to the ones who desire to be constantly on a move, literally and figuratively.
Amaranthine paints death in hues of sad beauty in 'Sati Chauraa'. The poem reflects Anupam's deep understanding of the phenomenon and his meditative observation of the ritual of life and death co-existing in the by lanes of his town that makes the scenes come alive with haunting vividness.
Anupam's diehard love for his homeland comes alive multiple times in 'The Heart of a Home', 'Cuttack', 'A Song for the Ruined' (a tribute to the Konark Temple), 'Mahanadi' and the mention of Chandrabhaga more than once. It also instils in one a desire to visit all these places to experience the magnanimity and simplicity with which he professes his love for these places. And lastly, the short poems (Shorts) with their instant intoxication and charm, give the book an apt finish.
The dilemmas, desires, and pain in Anupam's poetry make you revisit your own. That’s the beauty and aspiration of any art and artist, I guess. Any insight into your own being is the purpose fulfilled for an artist. It’s meant to affirm that you are not alone, for there are others like you in sorrow and pain, in love and longing, in desire and craving, in loss and memory, in grief and nostalgia. And when we know we are not alone, we get through, we carry on, we are reborn, aren’t we? There is a tint of hope.
'The broken can be beautiful…….' Perhaps, nothing summarizes Anupam's Amaranthine better than this line from his poem 'A Song for the Ruined'.
A wonderful beginning (in the world of poetry) for Anupam Patra.
After reading what has been beautifully and suitably named as 'Amaranthine', one is brought to the realization that there is always going to be something unfading and undying about the memories, love, and longing that this book is all about. The book is a snuggly ode to the ones never forgotten in love, no matter the distance, drudgery and ever pervasive death.
The torment and longing found in 'Mausoleum of Promises', 'Imsen', 'Tsering' and 'Inheritance of Desire' will only make lovers revisit lanes of their own suffering and unfulfilled desires. The poems will certainly resonate deep with anyone who has loved and lost, especially the ones who cannot find solace and tend to sink in void of unfulfilled love.
'Ferry', elicited the desire to be longed so earnestly. The sincerity and simplicity in the words would stir some hidden chords and touch the soul . The cry for solitude in 'Encryption' was my personal favorite. The body shuddered with that tingling sensation when you know someone has captured your feelings so precisely that you instantly marvel and feel one with the soul that has shared your essence in some way. Another favorite being 'Homecoming', describing the grief the demise of a loved one often leaves us in. It so poignantly captures the confusion and shock of the surviving spouse who has lost his companion of decades. The line 'your heart is in your feet' in the poem Traveller will stay with me forever. The words instantly gave a sense of worth to those ever-wandering souls, including mine, and to the ones who desire to be constantly on a move, literally and figuratively.
Amaranthine paints death in hues of sad beauty in 'Sati Chauraa'. The poem reflects Anupam's deep understanding of the phenomenon and his meditative observation of the ritual of life and death co-existing in the by lanes of his town that makes the scenes come alive with haunting vividness.
Anupam's diehard love for his homeland comes alive multiple times in 'The Heart of a Home', 'Cuttack', 'A Song for the Ruined' (a tribute to the Konark Temple), 'Mahanadi' and the mention of Chandrabhaga more than once. It also instils in one a desire to visit all these places to experience the magnanimity and simplicity with which he professes his love for these places. And lastly, the short poems (Shorts) with their instant intoxication and charm, give the book an apt finish.
The dilemmas, desires, and pain in Anupam's poetry make you revisit your own. That’s the beauty and aspiration of any art and artist, I guess. Any insight into your own being is the purpose fulfilled for an artist. It’s meant to affirm that you are not alone, for there are others like you in sorrow and pain, in love and longing, in desire and craving, in loss and memory, in grief and nostalgia. And when we know we are not alone, we get through, we carry on, we are reborn, aren’t we? There is a tint of hope.
'The broken can be beautiful…….' Perhaps, nothing summarizes Anupam's Amaranthine better than this line from his poem 'A Song for the Ruined'.
A wonderful beginning (in the world of poetry) for Anupam Patra.
June 27, 2024
Amaranthine is a collection of over 30+ poems by Anupam Patra. The cover page and title reflects the apt soul of the book. The title poem ‘Amaranthine’ is a metaphor of a woman’s love and kindness for the narrator who finds solace and seeks aegis under her tender influence.
“I love you for amaranthine is your loveliness
Your arms retreat for my slowing self
But I love you the most,
When you kneel with kindness,
And touch my barren soul’s emptiness.”
A seeker of true love can be empty but a ravishing beauty’s presence is enough to replete any barren heart. The collection goes through many themes that make one abounding if one is blessed with them, but if not…then it is a saga of loneliness. The book connects us with our past where we encountered uncertainties, accosted love…but in return got memories that still haunt those unspeakable rationales.
Loves, loss, and nostalgia – is the biggest takeaway influence of the book. More to that ‘Amaranthine’ covers a spectrum of feelings pertaining to love, longing, union, memories, separation, death, loss, and faith. Its verses are tender, accessible, relatable, and approachable – its echoes seem to carry sentiments of human bonds since the dawn of time. Undeniably, these poems are bound to take one on a serene journey of love, loss, and nostalgia. Anupam is a promising voice who speaks from the depths of yearnings.
This book is like taking a stroll through the timeline of memories of the poet and exploring the depths of emotions of his world. His ability to capture the essence of fabrics of moments amidst chaos of life is fabulous. Simple, evocative…yet a rich source of poetry!
“I love you for amaranthine is your loveliness
Your arms retreat for my slowing self
But I love you the most,
When you kneel with kindness,
And touch my barren soul’s emptiness.”
A seeker of true love can be empty but a ravishing beauty’s presence is enough to replete any barren heart. The collection goes through many themes that make one abounding if one is blessed with them, but if not…then it is a saga of loneliness. The book connects us with our past where we encountered uncertainties, accosted love…but in return got memories that still haunt those unspeakable rationales.
Loves, loss, and nostalgia – is the biggest takeaway influence of the book. More to that ‘Amaranthine’ covers a spectrum of feelings pertaining to love, longing, union, memories, separation, death, loss, and faith. Its verses are tender, accessible, relatable, and approachable – its echoes seem to carry sentiments of human bonds since the dawn of time. Undeniably, these poems are bound to take one on a serene journey of love, loss, and nostalgia. Anupam is a promising voice who speaks from the depths of yearnings.
This book is like taking a stroll through the timeline of memories of the poet and exploring the depths of emotions of his world. His ability to capture the essence of fabrics of moments amidst chaos of life is fabulous. Simple, evocative…yet a rich source of poetry!
June 27, 2024
A classic poetry collection of short and mid-range poems with themes of bygone eras ingrained. Speaking of themes and topics, Anupam’s book represents a spectrum of hues and shades, longings and yearnings, nostalgia and remembrance. If poetry is light and sound, we can’t perceive all the light on the spectrum, nor hear all sounds. Similarly, not all art is within grasp, but over time it just might be within understanding – a sign of our evolution and tastes. And it aligns perfectly with that spectrum.
Amaranthine subtly insists that every moment that lapses, turns away…eventually ossifies as a memory. Recollecting tales and anecdotes of bygone era, remembering those moments of misdeeds and incomplete love and lessons saddens heart but cherishes old days blissful flickering.
Since aesthetics of the bygone era are covered beautifully in the book, it’s now evident that that book brims with themes like love, loss, grief, travelogue, memories, sense of culture and heritage. Yet the collection is a potpourri of emotions trapping in the range of emotional separation, opportunities lost, heartaches, and much more. The book is reflective of yesteryears life events–it will certainly push readers for a nudge of cogitation.
Easy to comprehend, there is a unique voice and freshness in the poet’s narration that connects deeply and stirs a sense of familiar nostalgia. Some poems such as November Flame, Vantage, Love Letter, and Heaven on Pillow express a lot without creating a brouhaha of words. Anupam’s language is simple, his words create magic for unheard, unattended, unrecognized, and untended feelings and emotions.
Amaranthine subtly insists that every moment that lapses, turns away…eventually ossifies as a memory. Recollecting tales and anecdotes of bygone era, remembering those moments of misdeeds and incomplete love and lessons saddens heart but cherishes old days blissful flickering.
Since aesthetics of the bygone era are covered beautifully in the book, it’s now evident that that book brims with themes like love, loss, grief, travelogue, memories, sense of culture and heritage. Yet the collection is a potpourri of emotions trapping in the range of emotional separation, opportunities lost, heartaches, and much more. The book is reflective of yesteryears life events–it will certainly push readers for a nudge of cogitation.
Easy to comprehend, there is a unique voice and freshness in the poet’s narration that connects deeply and stirs a sense of familiar nostalgia. Some poems such as November Flame, Vantage, Love Letter, and Heaven on Pillow express a lot without creating a brouhaha of words. Anupam’s language is simple, his words create magic for unheard, unattended, unrecognized, and untended feelings and emotions.
May 25, 2024
This is quite a poetic experience – Anupam Patra touches the chords of bygone era in a soothing rhythm. His poems brim with a kind of unfading charm, his words roped in like a garland of emotions, nostalgia, remembrance, reminisces and other memories.
After a long time, I have read a poetic collection with true essence and incredible veracity. The cover page reveals its title Amaranthine. Simple yet beauty in its own accord! A close look reveals that indeed the topics that this book covers seem everlasting. Some memories and nostalgia of gone youth and childhood is worth cherishing, and it never fades out from the cask of our consciousness. Anupam’s words hit like arrows of raindrops that…you cannot ignore the magic they stir even after a page is turned.
Neither melodramatic nor upbeat, this collection makes you feel reeling with a gamut of emotions. Love, loss, blissful romance and encounters of youth, sublime beauty of nature & rivers, homecoming, etc. are profoundly captured with words that mitigate heartbreaks and refreshes seething mind. Though the entire collection is worth investing time, I have had insightful affinity with poems on cities like Delhi and Cuttack. Big cities are chaotic, yet so accommodating for rich and poor alike. Also, in some of the poems I found my favourite theme – loneliness – especially in the poem Midnight Street. In one word – I loved this collection beyond a measurable satisfaction.
After a long time, I have read a poetic collection with true essence and incredible veracity. The cover page reveals its title Amaranthine. Simple yet beauty in its own accord! A close look reveals that indeed the topics that this book covers seem everlasting. Some memories and nostalgia of gone youth and childhood is worth cherishing, and it never fades out from the cask of our consciousness. Anupam’s words hit like arrows of raindrops that…you cannot ignore the magic they stir even after a page is turned.
Neither melodramatic nor upbeat, this collection makes you feel reeling with a gamut of emotions. Love, loss, blissful romance and encounters of youth, sublime beauty of nature & rivers, homecoming, etc. are profoundly captured with words that mitigate heartbreaks and refreshes seething mind. Though the entire collection is worth investing time, I have had insightful affinity with poems on cities like Delhi and Cuttack. Big cities are chaotic, yet so accommodating for rich and poor alike. Also, in some of the poems I found my favourite theme – loneliness – especially in the poem Midnight Street. In one word – I loved this collection beyond a measurable satisfaction.
May 25, 2024
An exquisite work of poetry, based on different emotions and phases of life! It has got around 40, mostly medium-length poems, each one is different and unique from the other. Yet at times a relatable theme passes from one to another, but I couldn’t find jinx in it. The poetry chugs ahead as downy as riverine experience.
The thing I liked most about this book is the versatility of the poems. All poems render a fine impactful experience, without casting a net of overlapping. Instead of using heavy words just to make it more traditional and poetic, the author has used the simplest vocabulary to portray emotions and turned them into lyrical verses and made them easy to comprehend. The biggest and tallest theme, according to me, is memories of life’s stages…I think this is evident of the poet’s life.
“Your absence has gone through my organs
Like dusk goes through the sky.”
This is a short and well-portrayed book. Some of my favourite lines from the book are:
“Mine are loafing on the streets of Dadar,
Lazying on the damp, cool beach of Juhu.”
The thing I liked most about this book is the versatility of the poems. All poems render a fine impactful experience, without casting a net of overlapping. Instead of using heavy words just to make it more traditional and poetic, the author has used the simplest vocabulary to portray emotions and turned them into lyrical verses and made them easy to comprehend. The biggest and tallest theme, according to me, is memories of life’s stages…I think this is evident of the poet’s life.
“Your absence has gone through my organs
Like dusk goes through the sky.”
This is a short and well-portrayed book. Some of my favourite lines from the book are:
“Mine are loafing on the streets of Dadar,
Lazying on the damp, cool beach of Juhu.”
June 7, 2024
In the poem ‘Thrush’, Anupam writes,
“Ceaseless and soft
a lonely thrush
sings somewhere
soulful songs of dusk”
For me, Amaranthine is the ‘soulful song of dusk’, for its poems arouse the same feelings of longing, nostalgia, and wistfulness experienced when dusk mingles into a lonely night. In his poetry, Anupam has created a vignette of poignant images, all strung together, portraying longing and pain with striking vividness.
At the heart of the poems are these sketches, the language carefully crafted by the poet to hold these images before our eyes.
Thematically, empathy, love, and longing bind the poems in Amaranthine, and throughout the journey, these poems often wrap the reader within layers of tender melancholy.
The book opens with Ferry, in whose lines the tone of the book is established right away -
The solitude and the crowd,
the mellow evenings
and this night’s quiet,
everything carries me to you
Read more about the book here: https://theindianbookclub.com/readers...
“Ceaseless and soft
a lonely thrush
sings somewhere
soulful songs of dusk”
For me, Amaranthine is the ‘soulful song of dusk’, for its poems arouse the same feelings of longing, nostalgia, and wistfulness experienced when dusk mingles into a lonely night. In his poetry, Anupam has created a vignette of poignant images, all strung together, portraying longing and pain with striking vividness.
At the heart of the poems are these sketches, the language carefully crafted by the poet to hold these images before our eyes.
Thematically, empathy, love, and longing bind the poems in Amaranthine, and throughout the journey, these poems often wrap the reader within layers of tender melancholy.
The book opens with Ferry, in whose lines the tone of the book is established right away -
The solitude and the crowd,
the mellow evenings
and this night’s quiet,
everything carries me to you
Read more about the book here: https://theindianbookclub.com/readers...
June 27, 2024
In ‘Amaranthine’ Anupam approaches the complexities of human attachment with abundant grace and sensitivity. His poems speak to you from a world of bygones. The verses almost read like craving filled sighs that echo long after the last line.
Love, Longing, Union, Separation, Death, Loss, Reunion, Faith, Pining, Nostalgia – ‘Amaranthine’ covers the whole spectrum of feelings we as humans experience in relationships. ‘Amaranthine’ is an apt name for this anthology of tender verses whose echoes seem to carry sentiments of human bonds since the beginning of time. These poems take you on a serene journey of love, loss and nostalgia. Anupam’s is a fresh voice that speaks from depths of yearnings. These are poems of profound experiences and insurmountable poverties of destiny. Simply beautiful!!
Love, Longing, Union, Separation, Death, Loss, Reunion, Faith, Pining, Nostalgia – ‘Amaranthine’ covers the whole spectrum of feelings we as humans experience in relationships. ‘Amaranthine’ is an apt name for this anthology of tender verses whose echoes seem to carry sentiments of human bonds since the beginning of time. These poems take you on a serene journey of love, loss and nostalgia. Anupam’s is a fresh voice that speaks from depths of yearnings. These are poems of profound experiences and insurmountable poverties of destiny. Simply beautiful!!
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