Unanswered Verses

by Tajammul Kothari

Unanswered Verses is a collection of poems that strives to capture the varied emotions of life in its rawest form. It aims to indulge the reader in asking questions pertaining to the three entities that govern our lives. Namely the mind, the heart and the soul. Written in a simple and lucid manner, the book is divided into three chapters related to the attainment of peaceful bliss, love and worldly freedom.

Genres: Poetry

47 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2018

About the author

Tajammul Kothari considered himself a novice writer (in fact, he still does) as it is only a few years ago that he planted his tiny footprints in the literary world but now after the success and recognition of his two poetry books "An Ode to Life" and "Unanswered Verses" by both the readers and the media, his confidence and courage has surged.

This, in turn, ignited an urge in him to experiment with his writing. He has taken a step forward and published a short stories collection titled, “Mixed Bag-Short Stories”.

The author sincerely hopes that his experiment will be fruitful and will receive the same appreciation and support as his previous works.

Articles about his books have been regularly featured in Newspapers and Magazines

Below are some of the links:

1) Bold Journey Magazine Interview
https://boldjourney.com/meet-tajammul...

2) "Mixed Bag-Short Stories"
https://www.gulfweekly.com/Articles/4...

3) "An Ode To Life"
https://www.gulfweekly.com/Articles/3...

4) "Unanswered Verses"
http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/621447

Reviews

[Stjepan Cobets · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating 4.5

The collection of poetry "Unanswered Verses" by Tajammul Kothari really appealed to me and the poems immediately attracted me. In simple verses, the writer draws us into his world, re-examining life, seeking answers to many questions. I like his immediate style and rethinking of thoughts, feelings, and events some of which are good and some are bad. I liked the poems; The Last Goodbye, Distant, Resurgence, Achievement, Prelude. I would recommend this collection of poetry to all lovers of verse.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice collection of poems that explore the painful side of life. The topics include betrayal, grief, bullying, addiction, doubt, regret, and more. My favorites were Unrequited, Resurgence, Harassed, Addiction, and The Skyline.

I noticed a few things that need improvement. This appears to be a draft at times, and could have used some more editing so we can really see the pain behind these verses. Some other practical notes: There are formatting errors in the Kindle edition, mainly spacing issues. The cover also needs work. There are millions of books on Kindle and the book cover needs to stand out. The cover is plain and not very noticeable. If the poems are about pain, let your cover reflect that.

I downloaded a copy of this book on Kindle Unlimited at the request of the author. My review is voluntary.

[Philip Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2017, I read and reviewed An Ode To Life by Tajammul Kothari, his first book of poems. Compared to much modern poetry, I found his poems refreshingly direct, clear, straightforward. There was no need to debate the meaning of his verses and they hid no obscure allusions. His second book of poems, Unanswered Verses, I found to be enjoyable and refreshing to read for the same reasons. The poems are clear explorations of his emotions and his thoughts on people in his life and on the world as it is. Reading the book, I felt like I was reading its author's diary, which I had come upon by accident, and though I knew it was wrong to do so, I went on, page by page, nonetheless. Quite often, his honesty, directness is painful to read. In his lines, he addresses his father, his mother, and others in his life. He deals with failure, loneliness, bullying, happiness, success and always, the search for meaning, the truth. Maybe he concentrates too much on the self, I thought, at times, while reading his poems. A poem written in the third person would not go amiss, for one thing, as a release from concentration on the self. A poem called A Raven In A Room stood out for me, a powerful, disturbing work, which dramatizes the truth that from the evil there is in the world we have no shelter. There is nothing wrong with clarity. A book of clear, direct poems I found a pleasure to read. I am sure others will, too. I end with a quote from Kurt Vonnegut which should encourage Tajammul Kothari and other creative people to continue to be so: "Practise any art, music, singing, dancing, acting......no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what's inside you, to make your soul grow."

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, yet telling, UNANSWERED VERSES by Tajammul Kothari is like a garden of personal emotions in flower. Varied, short and easy to read, this author says in verse what we all feel at one point in our lives.

If you haven’t tried poetry, this is a nice way to be introduced as you begin to realize that deep inside, we are all the same.

I received a complimentary copy from Tajammul Kothari!

Publication Date: August 1, 2018
Publisher: Tajammul Kothari
Genre: Poetry
Print Length: 52 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Vedrana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wonderful collection of poems unanswered verses by Tajammul Kothari slowly takes us on a journey full of emotions.
Versatile, short, easy to read, through three chapters author asks us questions we all feel at one point in our lives
Honestly and beautifully, I recommend it to all poetry lovers

[Mark Kloss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartfelt and and honest look at life, and the strong emotions of the poet definitely come through.

The poem about bullying I am sure can resonate with many people struggling both at school or at work.

There is a great developing style in this book, and it is refreshingly honest and blunt rather than convoluted and complicated, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Sara Jovanovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very pleasant suprise, because I've never heard of this author or poetry collection before. And it's such a shame, it deserves to be well known for a reason. The poems in here were extremely well written, in a form of regular poems instead of modern poetry. The collection is divided in three parts and since it's approximately 50 pages long, I highly recommend it as a short, yet impactful read.

I loved the variety of topics this book covered. Every poem is loosely connected to its part's topic and, at the same time, completely original content wise. Many usual life scenes were incorporated into these poems. But they were emotional and honest. The vulnerability in some of them completely moved me and I liked that the author wasn't afraid to dig deep into some of the terrifying, shameful, but deeply human emotions. I think Regret stands out as my favourite, but all of the poems were excellent.

Thanks to the author Tajammul Kothari for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unanswered Verses is by Tajammul Kothari. This is a short book of poems which are divided into three sections: Confessions of a battered mind, Whispers of the silent heart, and Echoes of the Descried Soul. Although I liked the poems, I wondered if the author is writing about himself as I read. Some of the poems seem to be “yelling for help”. Should we ignore this call for help since he has published this book? As a teacher, I would be questioning him. On the other hand, the poems create an atmosphere of someone who thought he was a failure due to bullying in school and feeling like he is failing his parents. He tells of all the things he goes through and finally seems to find peace. I like the forms of his poems as they are not rigid and formulated. I think this form of poetry tends to lend itself to the portrayal of ideas and feelings much easier to understand. I liked this book and hope he finds success with it.

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartfelt and sincere reflection on the poet's life so far. He seeks acceptance, happiness, love, and for meaning in life.
He starts from the parental home, and continues through his years at school. Eventually he finds success on some levels, but not all of them. "Fallen Angel" is a good example of poetry from the early part of the book, and is one example of poignant moment of betrayal.
"A Raven in a Room" contains a vivid image of the trouble that "becomes a permanent member of my home." Another poem that sticks in my mind is "Acquiesence" for his breif descripyion of a horrible event. In "Epilogue" there is a sense that things will ome together, nut not in the way the poety imagined. "And finally the journey begins/Where the mind, the heart and the soul/Will meet in a different realm"

Arthur Turfa, poet "Saldua Reflections", Finishing Line Press

[Gurpreet Kaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating - 3 stars.
The poet has beautifully yet very simply expressed himself and all the circumstances that he has gone through. I liked how the book was split into different sections and the poems were honest and sure did have the ability to make you feel. My 3 star rating reflects that at some places I found the book to be very plain and too simple and I feel there is so much room for improvement for the author. Overall , it was a okay read with raw emotions expressed in it.
Thanks to the author for providing me a pdf and letting me read his work.

[Ruthy lavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, honest and heartfelt collection of poems.
This short collection of poems are so personal that I felt slightly intrusive reading them at times, it’s as though the author was spilling his emotions out via words - which is what is so endearing about it.
I think there is something relatable in there for everyone. A good read.

[Bobbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, my apologies to the author, I read this awhile back, but forgot to post my review. I liked this book of poetry which relates the story of a young man from the time he is a confused youth, till he finds love, then breaks up and has heart ache. Chapter Two is one of my favorite parts Run Away:
Life was going so pretty
Thought the three of us were happy
Then suddenly you made us sad
Never thought this day would come
What made you run away?
Another part which was my absolute favorite is titled The Insatiable at the end of the book. The only thing I didn't like, I thought some of the verses were rather choppy, and needed to flow along more smoothly. Check it out for a touching book of poetry.

[Linda Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of poems exploring the meaning of life from a very personal viewpoint.

Unanswered Verses is a moving and heartfelt collection that made me feel incredibly close to the author because Tajammul Kothari articulates with a searing honesty the range of emotions so many of us feel internally but often never fully acknowledge or express.

Tajammul Kothari’s writing is actually quite simple; usually without the intricate linguistic flourishes and hidden meanings many might associate with poetry and it is all the better for it because the intensity of feeling has a chance to shine through lucidly and poignantly. Simple does not mean superficial, however, and in Unanswered Verses I found the language hugely affecting and effective. There’s everything explored in this short collection from loneliness to bullying, love to despair, failure to success, and reading the collection made me feel I had experienced the full gamut of human life through one man’s eyes. I have no idea how autobiographical these poems might be but they do have a universal resonance for all readers.

Tajammul Kothari writes with honesty from his heart. He understands that we all want to be more than ‘a whistle in the breeze’. He lays open his soul in Unanswered Verses and I feel privileged to have had a glimpse inside his heart and mind in this moving collection. I really recommend it.

[Majenta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. May these verses be somebody's answer.

[M. Sheehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This deep collection of poems, by Tajammul Kothari is beautifully written and full of personal experience. Unanswered Verses guides the reader through a journey of full emotion and deep thought, touching on subjects such as faith, bullying, insecurities, pain, etc. Definitely recommend it for poetry readers!

[Tom Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simply expressed but not very deep.

I wanted to like this slim book of verses and offer encouragement. It seems to be written by a young man going through the usual experiences of life and trying to relate them sincerely. And I’m sure he is sincere but his expression of his feelings feels more like a first draft of emotions, not the deep understanding that comes from reflection.

I enjoyed a few of the verses as I note below, but most left me cold. Sorry.

I assume he’s not comfortable with English as there are some glaring misuses of the language. I’ve listed a few that he should have caught.

My Notes:

“scruff” of the neck not “scuffle” in Addiction

Who is the He in Pained? Not God, I hope but I guess so.

Thought not Though in Run Away
Ha instead of He in Regret
Lose not Loose in Separation
Beside not Besides in Affair
Lose not Loose in The Wild Life

I liked Transience though it contains the same scent of disappointment as all in your other verses.

“Wondering if all that hunting was sufficed” in The Insatiable should be “sufficed” not “was sufficed”. Otherwise good, in no need of explanation.

I liked The Skyline.

In A Raven in a Room “gregarious” is misused, perhaps “ravenous” would be better.

I liked Unappreciated and Acquiescence.

In the Mirror of the Past returns to the sad self-pity of the first few verses.

Thank you for the chance to read your work.

[Neerja Joshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unanswered Verses is a second poetry collection by Tajammul Kothari. The verses are majorly freestyle, with some rhyme verses poetry in between. The collection covers the three essential parts of our life, the mind, the heart, and the soul. The verses are beautiful and simple, and it feels like as if the poet is sharing his emotions with you. Read it if you love freestyle poetry and raw emotions.

[Shannan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, real, honest poetry. I just devoured this collection of poetry in minutes! It is so good. The verses seemed so real and I believe a lot of people can relate to them. The author writes with passion and it was easy to feel each piece. I actually found this author on Goodreads and I'm honored to have read this work. I highly recommend this book.

[Cherry London · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deeply emotive package, that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride, injecting within you a new sensitivity which tugs on your heartstrings. These freestyle poems wring every emotional juice from your body leaving you wondering and gasping. This is a heartwrenching and deeply moving book of poems.

[Reneesarah]

The author very kindly asked me to read this book. I feel honored to have been asked.

In these poems the author explores emotional pain and the relationship problems people sometimes experience. I am glad the author has found poetry to be a way he can express himself and transform the pain people sometimes experience in life into poems.

[Theresa Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely collection of accessible poetry that is direct, heartfelt and elegant. If you enjoy poetry as much as I do, you'll enjoy this book of poetry. Very simple poems about the struggles of our emotional lives when we contend with challenges. Recommended.

[Tenkara Smart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, thought-provoking and beautifully written.

I am so glad I read 'Unanswered Verses'. Normally a reader of novels, I am so glad I read this excellent book. It amazed me how the author could use words to simply and concisely generate significant meanings and emotions about different aspects of the human condition, such as loneliness, loss, love, redemption, karma, death and more, and how the words succinctly reflected many values and cultures of our time. It was a quick read that I will read and re-read again as it is thought provoking. I was an English Literature major at Uni and this reminds me of the type of book students would study due to the variety of different ways to look at each topic/chapter - the entire book begs many questions to be asked, which suits the title 'Unanswered Verses'.

There were so many great quotes and lines, and here are a few favourites of mine (and note that the full written words of the author are more powerful then my condensed lines as presented here):

"...Dead silence fills the room, so quiet that even light footsteps make a loud echo' (on love lost);

"His name being used for all the wrong reasons, amassing wealth for his own cause for surely God doesn't need wealth...he will come to know when he finally meets Him, and then he will repent, Why didn't he teach the true message?" (on religion);

"When a single piece of cloud enters the clear blue sky, it makes us scared...As there is sunshine only after rain, and happiness is sweeter only after pain" (ying/yang);

"The mirror reflects what I don't want to see, the timeless scars of my past deeds...How I wish to start anew...I almost succeed in my endeavor until I look in the mirror" (self-reflection/pain);

"...finally the journey begins, where the mind, the heart and the soul will meet in a different realm." (on death).

I recommend this beautiful and thought-provoking book.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unanswered Verses by Tajammul Kothari, is a collection of poems that describe some of the feelings of living in loneliness with fears and regrets as life partners. The first poem in Chapter One is titled Harassed and allows the reader a glimpse of what it is like to be bullied. I felt that every poem was very easy to relate to as most of us have experienced loss, bullying, grief, betrayal, and hopelessness. There are poems where the speaker is reaching out for something good and poems where the world comes crashing around him.

Reviewing poetry always seems to be a subjective experience as we read through our own filters and lenses, no matter how much we try to relate and get into the poet's head. Having written poetry, I can honestly say that the majority of my poems are actually darker in nature which would surprise many of the people that know me. So reading poetry that expresses some of the hardest emotions does not disturb me in the least. I felt that the poems written for Unanswered Verses are naked honesty of what is felt or thought of. The verses are deceptive in a way as they appear simple. But they hold a depth in expressing raw emotion without flowery wording to disguise the pain. Well done, Kothari!!!! I highly recommend Unanswered Verses and feel it is near impossible not to react or respond to his words.

[Piers Horner · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a self-professed novice, 'Unanswered Verses' is a courageous piece of writing. The verses string together a series of stark reflections on anguish, loneliness, love and betrayal. There is a strong sense throughout that these visions of human darkness are very personal to the author, and while this may not suit all readers, there is also much promise in the writing.

My favourite piece was 'Chained', the text of which has a natural rhythm and flow that some of the other fragments are missing, and a quite beautiful ending. I also really enjoyed the ideas and imagery behind those pieces that strayed from the regular style and sense of narrative in the rest of the work. The idea of pulling a Christmas theme into 'Loneliness' oddly worked for me. Other strong pieces included 'The Skyline'; 'The Insatiable'; 'Impoverish' and 'A Preacher's Life'. I wish all the best of luck to the author as he continues to develop his poetry in the future.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some people don't pick up poetry in case they won't understand the poems, or they will be bored, or the literary allusions will confuse them. I suggest that this book of Unanswered Verses would be a good read, since it consists of short poems, blank verse and describes situations we can all understand.
A child bullied at school; a workmate ashamed to say he does nothing on the weekends; a depressed person; a discovery that a friend has passed away young. Either we can identify with at least one poem or we can easily imagine the situation. And by empathising, we hold up a mirror to our own lives, maybe understand better how something happened.
I was charmed by the simplicity of the telling, which makes tales powerful.
Personally I like to give positive inspiration, so I would have selected a more hopeful poem near the end, but the author guides us to calm acceptance in his own way.

I was sent an e-ARC to read and chose to review in my own time. This is an unbiased review.

[Marin . · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, I have never read such straightforward and unpretentious confessions of poems in prose before. I congratulate the author for his brevity to publicly dissect his feelings and emotions in this simple and rather "unpoetic" way. "Unanswered Verses" by Tajammul Kothari helped me answer the question WHAT IS POETRY. Poetry is a universe full of stars with intrinsic brightness, black holes, white dwarfs, highly-dense stellar bodies, dark matter, and more - once born they all have the right to exist creating their own gravitational forces. Tajammul's small galaxy of fifty poems divided into three sections is like an unusual and lonely planet with three welcoming but tortured continents - human mind, heart, and soul.

[Dr. des. Siobhán · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tajammul kindly send me his poetry collection to read, I enjoyed it a lot, thank you very much.

Writing about a variety of topics, the painful side of life is explored, presenting raw emotions in the well written poems, which cover topics such as loss, betrayal, addiction, grief, or heartbreak.

The poems are written in a clear and direct style that allows the reader to easily capture the meaning. That might not appeal to everyone, but I enjoyed the lack of confusion that goes hand in hand with reading quite mysterious or enigmatic poetry. As always, not all poems worked for me, but some were quite touching and beautiful.

I hope Tajammul will write more poetry in the future!

4 Stars

[Dandy Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of poems: Unanswered Verses by Tajammul Kothari - looks at emotional subjects keeping his prose crisp and clear and without falling into the common poetic trap of over-flowery description.
In three short chapters the author skilfully takes us on a journey through his chosen subjects. This is a good book to start someone on the path to discover poetry without overwhelming them and although it might benefit from the services of a professional editor, overall it is very readable.

[Chèri-Lee Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kothari's debut poetry collection is striking

" How I wish I could turn back the clock"

This collection has a sense of reminiscent pain, my heart hurt so many times while reading it, I believe Kothari has a gift, that could bloom into something amazing over time. His words are pungent and have a depth that only writing from experience could provide!

[Kathy Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC for an honest review. I enjoyed this open, honest poems of heartfelt emotions. You feel as though you are going on a journey of the author’s life. I haven’t read poetry much to read a book of them but found these poems touching.