What do you think?
Rate this book
Ruskin Bond's Book of Verse
Ruskin Bond's Book of Verse
152 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
9 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
680 books3,563 followersRuskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 2, 2018
Read it, oh, please, read it! You must. I beg of you.
You deserve to feel the simple yet stirring currents of Ruskin's poetry.
The sweetest anthology of poems centred around childhood, love, nature and humour. Ruskin has a way with words that entice readers' mind and heart, all at once. That man!
You deserve to feel the simple yet stirring currents of Ruskin's poetry.
The sweetest anthology of poems centred around childhood, love, nature and humour. Ruskin has a way with words that entice readers' mind and heart, all at once. That man!
August 13, 2020
I have a beautiful relationship with Ruskin Bond's work beacause probably he was the first author I ever read. Having read almost everything he has ever written, I was surprised.
.
And yes the "Almost" is important here because I had never heard or seen this book before I found it one day while casually searching @book.chor !
.
It's a Book of poems, Haikus and small pieces of writting that he wrote over long periods of time without ever giving much emphasis. He casually used to include them between his stories and novels, hoping that the publisher won't notice and now (in 2007) @penguinindia reached out to him to compile all the scattered works and made them into this beautiful collection.
.
I enjoyed the book. It was good as a break from heavy reading. But probably you will enjoy it only if you are a DIE-HARD fan of Ruskin Bond. As there are certain poems which, one can only understand if they have read the book or story where it was included!
.
And yes the "Almost" is important here because I had never heard or seen this book before I found it one day while casually searching @book.chor !
.
It's a Book of poems, Haikus and small pieces of writting that he wrote over long periods of time without ever giving much emphasis. He casually used to include them between his stories and novels, hoping that the publisher won't notice and now (in 2007) @penguinindia reached out to him to compile all the scattered works and made them into this beautiful collection.
.
I enjoyed the book. It was good as a break from heavy reading. But probably you will enjoy it only if you are a DIE-HARD fan of Ruskin Bond. As there are certain poems which, one can only understand if they have read the book or story where it was included!
December 10, 2025
With Ruskin Bond. The Man who gave me so much,,,,
Ruskin Bond’s Book of Verse is a gentle yet emotionally resonant collection that showcases Bond’s talent as a poet—a side of his writing often overshadowed by his stories and essays.
This volume gathers poems written across several decades, revealing Bond’s deep sensitivity to nature, childhood, love, solitude, and the passage of time.
The first impression one gets while reading this collection is its simplicity. Bond’s poetry is free of pretension. He prefers short lines, clear images, and direct emotions.
But beneath this simplicity lies remarkable depth. His poems are like small windows opening onto vast emotional landscapes.
Nature is the dominant theme throughout the book. Bond writes about trees, mountains, birds, rivers, and changing seasons with affection and attentiveness.
His imagery is evocative yet restrained: a leaf drifting in wind, a mountain bathed in twilight, rain tapping on a tin roof.
These images are not decorative; they carry emotional weight, expressing serenity, longing, or nostalgia.
Solitude is another recurring theme. Many poems reflect Bond’s lifelong preference for quiet living in the hills. Yet his solitude is never lonely—it is mindful, peaceful, even joyful.
His poems suggest that being alone helps one listen more closely to the rhythms of the world.
Childhood memories infuse the collection with warmth. Bond recalls friendships, lost pets, early loves, and his youthful sense of wonder. These poems are tender without being sentimental.
The emotional honesty makes them deeply relatable.
Love appears in various forms—romantic affection, unfulfilled longing, compassionate connection, or quiet companionship.
Bond’s love poems are understated, often focusing on the lingering emotions after a brief encounter or the memories of someone long gone.
He excels at capturing the ache of longing in just a few lines.
Bond also writes about writing itself. Several poems reflect on creativity, imagination, and the search for meaning. In these moments, readers glimpse the inner workings of a writer who has spent a lifetime turning observations into art.
What makes this book unique is its consistency of mood. Bond’s poems radiate calmness.
Even when touching on themes of loss or aging, the tone remains gentle, accepting, and hopeful.
His outlook is philosophical but grounded, offering solace in a turbulent world.
The collection includes both rhymed and free verse poems. Bond does not experiment heavily with form; instead, he prioritises clarity and emotional truth.
This makes his poetry accessible to younger readers while still carrying enough depth to engage adults.
The strongest poems in the collection are those dealing with time—its fleetingness, its cycles, its quiet transformations. Bond uses everyday images to explore profound ideas: a bird’s shadow on water, a flower wilting in sunlight, an empty lane echoing with memories.
These moments reveal his meditative, almost Zen-like sensibility.
Ultimately, Ruskin Bond’s Book of Verse is not merely a poetry collection—it is a reflection of Bond’s inner world. It offers readers a glimpse into the gentle, observant, compassionate soul behind his stories.
The poems are short enough to read in fragments yet powerful enough to linger long after.
For fans of Bond, this book is essential, allowing them to see a different facet of his artistry.
For new readers, it serves as a soothing introduction to the quiet beauty of his literary voice.
Most recommended.
Ruskin Bond’s Book of Verse is a gentle yet emotionally resonant collection that showcases Bond’s talent as a poet—a side of his writing often overshadowed by his stories and essays.
This volume gathers poems written across several decades, revealing Bond’s deep sensitivity to nature, childhood, love, solitude, and the passage of time.
The first impression one gets while reading this collection is its simplicity. Bond’s poetry is free of pretension. He prefers short lines, clear images, and direct emotions.
But beneath this simplicity lies remarkable depth. His poems are like small windows opening onto vast emotional landscapes.
Nature is the dominant theme throughout the book. Bond writes about trees, mountains, birds, rivers, and changing seasons with affection and attentiveness.
His imagery is evocative yet restrained: a leaf drifting in wind, a mountain bathed in twilight, rain tapping on a tin roof.
These images are not decorative; they carry emotional weight, expressing serenity, longing, or nostalgia.
Solitude is another recurring theme. Many poems reflect Bond’s lifelong preference for quiet living in the hills. Yet his solitude is never lonely—it is mindful, peaceful, even joyful.
His poems suggest that being alone helps one listen more closely to the rhythms of the world.
Childhood memories infuse the collection with warmth. Bond recalls friendships, lost pets, early loves, and his youthful sense of wonder. These poems are tender without being sentimental.
The emotional honesty makes them deeply relatable.
Love appears in various forms—romantic affection, unfulfilled longing, compassionate connection, or quiet companionship.
Bond’s love poems are understated, often focusing on the lingering emotions after a brief encounter or the memories of someone long gone.
He excels at capturing the ache of longing in just a few lines.
Bond also writes about writing itself. Several poems reflect on creativity, imagination, and the search for meaning. In these moments, readers glimpse the inner workings of a writer who has spent a lifetime turning observations into art.
What makes this book unique is its consistency of mood. Bond’s poems radiate calmness.
Even when touching on themes of loss or aging, the tone remains gentle, accepting, and hopeful.
His outlook is philosophical but grounded, offering solace in a turbulent world.
The collection includes both rhymed and free verse poems. Bond does not experiment heavily with form; instead, he prioritises clarity and emotional truth.
This makes his poetry accessible to younger readers while still carrying enough depth to engage adults.
The strongest poems in the collection are those dealing with time—its fleetingness, its cycles, its quiet transformations. Bond uses everyday images to explore profound ideas: a bird’s shadow on water, a flower wilting in sunlight, an empty lane echoing with memories.
These moments reveal his meditative, almost Zen-like sensibility.
Ultimately, Ruskin Bond’s Book of Verse is not merely a poetry collection—it is a reflection of Bond’s inner world. It offers readers a glimpse into the gentle, observant, compassionate soul behind his stories.
The poems are short enough to read in fragments yet powerful enough to linger long after.
For fans of Bond, this book is essential, allowing them to see a different facet of his artistry.
For new readers, it serves as a soothing introduction to the quiet beauty of his literary voice.
Most recommended.
February 22, 2009
Some of the most simple, yet soulful poetry I've ever read..
April 11, 2021
Ruskin Bond may not be a great poet. I like him as a poet as well. As he said these are verse and I love these verse.
June 27, 2017
This author never stops to amaze me.
If option was available, I'd have given 6/5.
If option was available, I'd have given 6/5.
December 29, 2021
📍 This is the first poetry book I have read by Ruskin Bond.
📍 Some of the verses are really good in this book.
📍 These verses are written in a very simple language that you'll not have any difficulty to understand them.
📍 I found many good poems there, not every poem/verse is great in the book.
📍 Beginners can definitely start reading poetry with this one.
📍 Some of the verses are really good in this book.
📍 These verses are written in a very simple language that you'll not have any difficulty to understand them.
📍 I found many good poems there, not every poem/verse is great in the book.
📍 Beginners can definitely start reading poetry with this one.
March 11, 2018
Lovely book to read on a weekend... I wish to read it sometime again!
Cheers,
Cheers,
May 27, 2020
Mr. Bond just pulls you inside each of his stories.
October 28, 2020
Simple and Sweet.
January 1, 2020
Poems for all seasons, all moods. Such a wonderful collection. Simple yet deep are the poems. How simply Ruskin Bond plays with words is a treat to savour. It takes us closer to nature and mountains.
November 29, 2020
This book is a beautiful collection of poems. It starts off with a lovely introduction. For the ease of readers, the poems are beautifully classified into diverse categories, like Love, Nature, Humour, Travel, etc. It has 80 poems and 12 haikus, all of which are beautifully written. This book will be a lasting source of delight. I don't read much of poetry, and maybe that's the reason I'm finding it difficult to review this book. I'll just leave a few poems and haikus below...
‘Do you believe in ghosts?’
Asked the passenger
On platform number three
‘I'm a rational man’, said I,
‘I believe in what I can see—
Your hands, your feet, your beard!’
‘Then look again’, said he,
And promptly disappeared!
There was an old man at Landour
Who wanted young folk to laugh more;
So he wrote them a book,
And with laughter they shook
As they rolled down the hill to Rajpore.
One fine day my kite took wing,
Then came a strong wind—
I was left with the string!
Jasmine flowers in her hair,
Languid summer days are here,
And sweet longing scents the air.
Recommended to poetry lovers and Ruskin Bond fans!
‘Do you believe in ghosts?’
Asked the passenger
On platform number three
‘I'm a rational man’, said I,
‘I believe in what I can see—
Your hands, your feet, your beard!’
‘Then look again’, said he,
And promptly disappeared!
There was an old man at Landour
Who wanted young folk to laugh more;
So he wrote them a book,
And with laughter they shook
As they rolled down the hill to Rajpore.
One fine day my kite took wing,
Then came a strong wind—
I was left with the string!
Jasmine flowers in her hair,
Languid summer days are here,
And sweet longing scents the air.
Recommended to poetry lovers and Ruskin Bond fans!
February 10, 2017
Poems for all seasons and reasons - A very good collection of poems fondly written by the nature lover Ruskin Bond!
August 31, 2016
Ruskin Bond’s poetry is refreshing. It brings out what it wants to, and doesn’t pretend to have depth. It is simple, yet very soulful. It inspires, and provokes thought, and in its words, makes me escape from the tiredness of life, and from the feeling of being trapped without being able to write.
What I liked in this collection of verse is the simplicity in presentation, which leaves the reader still mesmerized after the read. The cover page design is also appealing, as is the verse on the back cover. The poems inspire verse and to a poet, can be very valuable.
My review: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-2kB
What I liked in this collection of verse is the simplicity in presentation, which leaves the reader still mesmerized after the read. The cover page design is also appealing, as is the verse on the back cover. The poems inspire verse and to a poet, can be very valuable.
My review: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-2kB
June 11, 2015
This book is the kind of book you keep revisiting in search of hidden meaning you could have missed earlier. It contains jewels within it like 'Pebbles' and 'If Mice Could Roar' which are so simple yet hold a deep meaning. Its the perfect book to read out loud and Ruskin's words are almost delicious as they bounce off your tongue. You could finish the whole book in a big gulp or savour it like expensive liquor, either ways it would leave you with a tingling feeling, the sort you cannot classify as being happy or sad, just something in between.
September 9, 2010
Really good book.
September 20, 2011
Its a fantastic escape from the hullabulloo of the world!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews