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I Was the Wind Last Night: New and Collected Poems
'There is nothing to keep me here,
Only these mountains of silence
And the gentle reserve of shepherds and woodmen
Who know me as one who
Walks among trees.'
One of India's finest and most popular writers, Ruskin Bond is loved as much for the lyricism of his verses as for his classic stories. Tender and unsparing, understated but powerful, his poems reveal a deep connection with nature and appreciation for a surprising range of human emotions. This definitive collection of his poems, written over a lifetime, brings together themes as diverse as love, nostalgia, humour, family and friends, solitude and, of course, the joys to be found in spending time with nature. A timeless classic to enjoy or share, I Was the Wind Last Night: New and Collected Poems is a treasured addition to every poetry lover's bookshelf.
Only these mountains of silence
And the gentle reserve of shepherds and woodmen
Who know me as one who
Walks among trees.'
One of India's finest and most popular writers, Ruskin Bond is loved as much for the lyricism of his verses as for his classic stories. Tender and unsparing, understated but powerful, his poems reveal a deep connection with nature and appreciation for a surprising range of human emotions. This definitive collection of his poems, written over a lifetime, brings together themes as diverse as love, nostalgia, humour, family and friends, solitude and, of course, the joys to be found in spending time with nature. A timeless classic to enjoy or share, I Was the Wind Last Night: New and Collected Poems is a treasured addition to every poetry lover's bookshelf.
- GenresPoetryNonfiction
202 pages, Paperback
Published December 10, 2017
14 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
680 books3,557 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.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 6, 2018
A poetic start to this year. The beauty of reading a Ruskin Bond's verse is that the reader subconsciously gets drawn into the world of mountains, cherry trees, whistling thrush, foxes, beetles, ants, poinsettia, leaves, clouds and raindrops. It is mesmerizing. One starts to look at the most minute thing around and appreciate it's existence. I loved reading every poem in this book, some of them brought memories of his previous works that I have read and most importantly all of them have given me oodles of zeal and zest for life.
December 30, 2021
Such a lovely description of the rain, only Ruskin Bond could give! The depth of his words is completely enthralling
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May 4, 2018Find the review here too: http://www.freepressjournal.in/book-r...
Name of the book: I Was the Wind Last Night: New and Collected Poems
Author: Ruskin Bond
Publisher: Speaking Tiger
Price: Rs. 399
Category: Poetry
‘Out of the city and over the hill,
Into the spaces where Time stands still’
Be rest assured that in no time, the lyricism in his verses will transport the reader from all her woes in connection with the vagaries of the weather, the umpteen troubles that grip her in everyday life into a world of Ruskin’s making where ‘peach and pear are still the sweetest of fruits.’
It is a timeless collection of more than a hundred of his poems written over the years grouped under ‘A Peepul Tree I Knew’, ‘Remember the Old Road’, ‘Friends, Far and Near’, ‘We Must Keep Loving, All Our Days’, ‘I’ll Take the Road Alone’, ‘If Mice Could Roar’, ‘Odds and Ends’ and ‘And As We Part’. As Ruskin Bond’s reader base might know by now, his poems are always understated and yet they exude a charm very rarely found.
As the poet confesses, he did not write much poetry until he came to live in the hills. Some of the poems in the book were written in Mussoorie in the 1960s and 70s and others, at Landour in Uttarakhand, from 1980 to present. His poems are a perfect example of what staying in touch with nature can do to one. It cleanses the mind and takes the complications out of life by giving one an entirely different and perhaps, a new perspective.
In ‘A Peepul Tree I Knew’, he amazingly speaks about the wonders of nature and how we humans are trespassers. ‘The trees start whispering among themselves when dusk slips over the mountains’ and the poet bows his head before their arms and asks for benediction. The night, the cherry tree, the ferns, the flowers, the snail, the frog, the small red ant – all begin to come gloriously alive in front of the reader as she turns the pages. The miraculous beauty of rebirth in every spring offers the reader lessons to remember and examples to emulate.
The poet transports the reader into a world where even the silence beckons and the night wind, the summer grass, time, dawn dew, moon climbing the sky – all make a distinct sound that only the reader can experience.
‘So, piper on the lonely hill,
Play no sad songs for me;
The day has gone, sweet night comes on,
Its darkness helps me see.’
There is something about this stanza and many more like this that makes the reader mull over the joy in solitude; the sense of beauty immensely touching. And such is the magic of his words that they float on the reader’s mind and then settle in as subtly as it first managed to make an impact. The impact, however, is a lasting one.
His use of imagery to create a lyrical emotion in the reader is notable. Also, his choice of words makes it easy for readers to grasp easily. It’s no wonder that The Indian Council for Child Education has recognised his role in the growth of children’s literature in India. This book can be read by children too, especially the section ‘If Mice Could Roar’ (which is a must read). It can help youngsters develop their writing skills without making it look like a daunting task.
Considering his popularity among children and the aged, it is little surprise that the book would appeal to all age groups. The range of themes brought together in the book is diverse – love, nostalgia, humour, family and friends, spending time with nature and the sense of joy in solitude – all bound together by a thin string called acceptance, an acceptance of life in all its happy and sad elements.
The book can also be called a reflection of his life where the reader gets glimpses of certain stages. It is a collection worth preserving by the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee.
- Divya Nambiar (https://critiquedontcriticize.blogspo...)
Name of the book: I Was the Wind Last Night: New and Collected Poems
Author: Ruskin Bond
Publisher: Speaking Tiger
Price: Rs. 399
Category: Poetry
‘Out of the city and over the hill,
Into the spaces where Time stands still’
Be rest assured that in no time, the lyricism in his verses will transport the reader from all her woes in connection with the vagaries of the weather, the umpteen troubles that grip her in everyday life into a world of Ruskin’s making where ‘peach and pear are still the sweetest of fruits.’
It is a timeless collection of more than a hundred of his poems written over the years grouped under ‘A Peepul Tree I Knew’, ‘Remember the Old Road’, ‘Friends, Far and Near’, ‘We Must Keep Loving, All Our Days’, ‘I’ll Take the Road Alone’, ‘If Mice Could Roar’, ‘Odds and Ends’ and ‘And As We Part’. As Ruskin Bond’s reader base might know by now, his poems are always understated and yet they exude a charm very rarely found.
As the poet confesses, he did not write much poetry until he came to live in the hills. Some of the poems in the book were written in Mussoorie in the 1960s and 70s and others, at Landour in Uttarakhand, from 1980 to present. His poems are a perfect example of what staying in touch with nature can do to one. It cleanses the mind and takes the complications out of life by giving one an entirely different and perhaps, a new perspective.
In ‘A Peepul Tree I Knew’, he amazingly speaks about the wonders of nature and how we humans are trespassers. ‘The trees start whispering among themselves when dusk slips over the mountains’ and the poet bows his head before their arms and asks for benediction. The night, the cherry tree, the ferns, the flowers, the snail, the frog, the small red ant – all begin to come gloriously alive in front of the reader as she turns the pages. The miraculous beauty of rebirth in every spring offers the reader lessons to remember and examples to emulate.
The poet transports the reader into a world where even the silence beckons and the night wind, the summer grass, time, dawn dew, moon climbing the sky – all make a distinct sound that only the reader can experience.
‘So, piper on the lonely hill,
Play no sad songs for me;
The day has gone, sweet night comes on,
Its darkness helps me see.’
There is something about this stanza and many more like this that makes the reader mull over the joy in solitude; the sense of beauty immensely touching. And such is the magic of his words that they float on the reader’s mind and then settle in as subtly as it first managed to make an impact. The impact, however, is a lasting one.
His use of imagery to create a lyrical emotion in the reader is notable. Also, his choice of words makes it easy for readers to grasp easily. It’s no wonder that The Indian Council for Child Education has recognised his role in the growth of children’s literature in India. This book can be read by children too, especially the section ‘If Mice Could Roar’ (which is a must read). It can help youngsters develop their writing skills without making it look like a daunting task.
Considering his popularity among children and the aged, it is little surprise that the book would appeal to all age groups. The range of themes brought together in the book is diverse – love, nostalgia, humour, family and friends, spending time with nature and the sense of joy in solitude – all bound together by a thin string called acceptance, an acceptance of life in all its happy and sad elements.
The book can also be called a reflection of his life where the reader gets glimpses of certain stages. It is a collection worth preserving by the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee.
- Divya Nambiar (https://critiquedontcriticize.blogspo...)
September 11, 2018
When the sun is hidden behind grey clouds, but the heat has refused to wane and words on your screen don't make sense anymore; is the moment you take out your favourite author's book and rummage through it.
I am not a poetry person, because of my ignorance about rhyme scheme and meters and metaphors; I consider myself a hard to impress reader of poetry. If it doesn't strike me the poem is not worth my patience.
But something about this collection made me happy and peaceful, of course, I am biased towards Mr. Bond, he is one of the greatest literary love of my life. What always surprises me about his writing is clarity of his thoughts and his ease at breaking down most complex of relationships to a Haiku: Sweet-scented jasmine in this fold of cloth
I give to you on this your bridal day,
That you forget me not.
I have been reading him since I was four, I understood him then and at twenty-five I understand him still. He doesn't complicate, he observes and pens, he feels and he writes, that is what is so lacking in today's writing, the clarity of thought and sight.
It's a collection of some amazing new poems and filled with his old gems like The Cherry Tree. Divided into craftily named sections, and touched with the perfect blend of illustration. The book itself is a wholistic experience to hold, the Goudy old style font, the light paper, the strong spine and Young Rusty on the cover. Sometimes you pick up a book because it aesthetically pleases you.
Ruskin Bond's poetry can be summed up as an assorted box of chocolates, they are all sweet; some are bittersweet, some are caramelized sweet, some are sour-cream sweet, but at the core of it lies satisfaction of that toffee you bought for 50 paise once. His words might not be something grand that overwhelms and overpowers ones thought process, but they are sweet nothings that make the overwhelming and overenthusiastic writings bearable.
Oh yes I am channeling work distress by reading him. If he is not one of then greatest who is?
And I shared my favourite ones, some of my friends have been poetry assaulted since last Sunday because I have been carrying this book everywhere.
I am not a poetry person, because of my ignorance about rhyme scheme and meters and metaphors; I consider myself a hard to impress reader of poetry. If it doesn't strike me the poem is not worth my patience.
But something about this collection made me happy and peaceful, of course, I am biased towards Mr. Bond, he is one of the greatest literary love of my life. What always surprises me about his writing is clarity of his thoughts and his ease at breaking down most complex of relationships to a Haiku: Sweet-scented jasmine in this fold of cloth
I give to you on this your bridal day,
That you forget me not.
I have been reading him since I was four, I understood him then and at twenty-five I understand him still. He doesn't complicate, he observes and pens, he feels and he writes, that is what is so lacking in today's writing, the clarity of thought and sight.
It's a collection of some amazing new poems and filled with his old gems like The Cherry Tree. Divided into craftily named sections, and touched with the perfect blend of illustration. The book itself is a wholistic experience to hold, the Goudy old style font, the light paper, the strong spine and Young Rusty on the cover. Sometimes you pick up a book because it aesthetically pleases you.
Ruskin Bond's poetry can be summed up as an assorted box of chocolates, they are all sweet; some are bittersweet, some are caramelized sweet, some are sour-cream sweet, but at the core of it lies satisfaction of that toffee you bought for 50 paise once. His words might not be something grand that overwhelms and overpowers ones thought process, but they are sweet nothings that make the overwhelming and overenthusiastic writings bearable.
Oh yes I am channeling work distress by reading him. If he is not one of then greatest who is?
And I shared my favourite ones, some of my friends have been poetry assaulted since last Sunday because I have been carrying this book everywhere.
November 9, 2018
The Poetry of the Earth is never dead"
I don't know what to say about the book and its incredible poetry by Ruskin Bond. The book is divided into nine sections -
1. A peepul Tree I know
2. Remember the Old Road
3. Friends, Far and Near
4.We must Keep Loving , All our Days
5.If the Mice Could Roar
6.The Silent Stones
7.I'LL Take the Road Alone
8.Odds and Ends
9.And As we Part
I loved all the section of the book particularly A peepul Tree I Know and I'll Take the road alone.
The poems are related to the nature's beauty and experiences of his life. He describes his feeling in flawless manner. Every poem has a great and deep meanings. The poetry written by him shows how he is keen observer of nature and he knowns how to express his in poetry .The book is packed with happiness, solidity, nature's beauty and much more.
If you're a nature's lover , Ruskin bond fan ,love poetry, then this I definitely recommend for you people. Now for whom you're waiting then, go to the bookstore or borrow it or buy online but read this amazing poetry. I guarantee you will be in love with the poetry.
Book In Three Words : Page turning, Interesting, Heart touching
I don't know what to say about the book and its incredible poetry by Ruskin Bond. The book is divided into nine sections -
1. A peepul Tree I know
2. Remember the Old Road
3. Friends, Far and Near
4.We must Keep Loving , All our Days
5.If the Mice Could Roar
6.The Silent Stones
7.I'LL Take the Road Alone
8.Odds and Ends
9.And As we Part
I loved all the section of the book particularly A peepul Tree I Know and I'll Take the road alone.
The poems are related to the nature's beauty and experiences of his life. He describes his feeling in flawless manner. Every poem has a great and deep meanings. The poetry written by him shows how he is keen observer of nature and he knowns how to express his in poetry .The book is packed with happiness, solidity, nature's beauty and much more.
If you're a nature's lover , Ruskin bond fan ,love poetry, then this I definitely recommend for you people. Now for whom you're waiting then, go to the bookstore or borrow it or buy online but read this amazing poetry. I guarantee you will be in love with the poetry.
Book In Three Words : Page turning, Interesting, Heart touching
June 14, 2020
Peaceful. Serene. Nostalgic.
To some these poems may appear simple and childish rhymes. But that's the uniqueness of it. Reading these poems I felt relaxed and nostalgic. I felt as if I went back to my childhood and went to mountains and rivers. I really loved .any of the poems in this collection. Simplicity is hard to find and this collection is one where you will find simplicity and peace just like relaxing in evening under a blossoming cherry tree.
To some these poems may appear simple and childish rhymes. But that's the uniqueness of it. Reading these poems I felt relaxed and nostalgic. I felt as if I went back to my childhood and went to mountains and rivers. I really loved .any of the poems in this collection. Simplicity is hard to find and this collection is one where you will find simplicity and peace just like relaxing in evening under a blossoming cherry tree.
July 24, 2023
As I walked home last night
I saw a lone fox dancing
In the cold moonlight.
I stood and watched . Then
Took the low road, knowing
The night was by his right.
Sometimes, when words ring true,
I'm like a lone fox dancing
In the morning dew.
This poem will be my favourite from Ruskin bond and this book here contains more than 150 beautiful poems about nature, mountains, friends and love.
I really liked this book !
I saw a lone fox dancing
In the cold moonlight.
I stood and watched . Then
Took the low road, knowing
The night was by his right.
Sometimes, when words ring true,
I'm like a lone fox dancing
In the morning dew.
This poem will be my favourite from Ruskin bond and this book here contains more than 150 beautiful poems about nature, mountains, friends and love.
I really liked this book !
April 2, 2018
What a fine book! This could not have been done by any person but Bond himself. Some of the poems in this book are to the likes of Ramanujan. Ruskin reminded me of many poets from Yeats to Donne through his words.
The book is so honestly written, like any other book by this author, that one feels connected to the writer; as if one is talking to the poet in person.
The book is so honestly written, like any other book by this author, that one feels connected to the writer; as if one is talking to the poet in person.
December 19, 2018
This is a collection of poems. Simple verse with meaningful reading, a reading delight, to those who enjoy poetry.
August 12, 2019
Cool
Poetic nice am a zing fugilgiifyifiyfiufyfu crucify dugout dugout chichi dugout Rubio th h in until much. In. Ugh. I.
Poetic nice am a zing fugilgiifyifiyfiufyfu crucify dugout dugout chichi dugout Rubio th h in until much. In. Ugh. I.
September 11, 2018
When the sun is hidden behind grey clouds, but the heat has refused to wane and words on your screen don't make sense anymore; is the moment you take out your favourite author's book and rummage through it.
I am not a poetry person, because of my ignorance about rhyme scheme and meters and metaphors; I consider myself a hard to impress reader of poetry. If it doesn't strike me the poem is not worth my patience.
But something about this collection made me happy and peaceful, of course, I am biased towards Mr. Bond, he is one of the greatest literary love of my life. What always surprises me about his writing is clarity of his thoughts and his ease at breaking down most complex of relationships to a Haiku: Sweet-scented jasmine in this fold of cloth
I give to you on this your bridal day,
That you forget me not.
I have been reading him since I was four, I understood him then and at twenty-five I understand him still. He doesn't complicate, he observes and pens, he feels and he writes, that is what is so lacking in today's writing, the clarity of thought and sight.
It's a collection of some amazing new poems and filled with his old gems like The Cherry Tree. Divided into craftily named sections, and touched with the perfect blend of illustration. The book itself is a wholistic experience to hold, the Goudy old style font, the light paper, the strong spine and Young Rusty on the cover. Sometimes you pick up a book because it aesthetically pleases you.
Ruskin Bond's poetry can be summed up as an assorted box of chocolates, they are all sweet; some are bittersweet, some are caramelized sweet, some are sour-cream sweet, but at the core of it lies satisfaction of that toffee you bought for 50 paise once. His words might not be something grand that overwhelms and overpowers ones thought process, but they are sweet nothings that make the overwhelming and overenthusiastic writings bearable.
Oh yes I am channeling work distress by reading him. If he is not one of then greatest who is?
And I shared my favourite ones, some of my friends have been poetry assaulted since last Sunday because I have been carrying this book everywhere.
I am not a poetry person, because of my ignorance about rhyme scheme and meters and metaphors; I consider myself a hard to impress reader of poetry. If it doesn't strike me the poem is not worth my patience.
But something about this collection made me happy and peaceful, of course, I am biased towards Mr. Bond, he is one of the greatest literary love of my life. What always surprises me about his writing is clarity of his thoughts and his ease at breaking down most complex of relationships to a Haiku: Sweet-scented jasmine in this fold of cloth
I give to you on this your bridal day,
That you forget me not.
I have been reading him since I was four, I understood him then and at twenty-five I understand him still. He doesn't complicate, he observes and pens, he feels and he writes, that is what is so lacking in today's writing, the clarity of thought and sight.
It's a collection of some amazing new poems and filled with his old gems like The Cherry Tree. Divided into craftily named sections, and touched with the perfect blend of illustration. The book itself is a wholistic experience to hold, the Goudy old style font, the light paper, the strong spine and Young Rusty on the cover. Sometimes you pick up a book because it aesthetically pleases you.
Ruskin Bond's poetry can be summed up as an assorted box of chocolates, they are all sweet; some are bittersweet, some are caramelized sweet, some are sour-cream sweet, but at the core of it lies satisfaction of that toffee you bought for 50 paise once. His words might not be something grand that overwhelms and overpowers ones thought process, but they are sweet nothings that make the overwhelming and overenthusiastic writings bearable.
Oh yes I am channeling work distress by reading him. If he is not one of then greatest who is?
And I shared my favourite ones, some of my friends have been poetry assaulted since last Sunday because I have been carrying this book everywhere.
November 5, 2023
#223
Book 64 of 2023- I was the wind last night
Author- Ruskin Bond
“Somewhere in life,there must be someone to take your hand and share the torrid day. Without the touch of love, there is no life and we must fade away.”
Everytime I read a Ruskin Bond Book, every time my heart feels full and content. My joy of appreciating the little things was majorly learnt from his books only. This is the most beautiful poem collection I’ve read this year. I love the way this book was designed. I love the way titles were made, I basically love everything about this book. Few poems moved me, made me cry, made me go all nostalgia about the good old days.
I ended up re-reading most of the chapters over and over, it gave me a new perspective every damn time. This book will always stay closer to my heart and to my desk, so I can randomly open the book and read any random poem. I genuinely want everyone to read this book, this will make your heart and soul so happy and so full.
“What greater gift than this moment in time, this heart-beat in the night?”
Book 64 of 2023- I was the wind last night
Author- Ruskin Bond
“Somewhere in life,there must be someone to take your hand and share the torrid day. Without the touch of love, there is no life and we must fade away.”
Everytime I read a Ruskin Bond Book, every time my heart feels full and content. My joy of appreciating the little things was majorly learnt from his books only. This is the most beautiful poem collection I’ve read this year. I love the way this book was designed. I love the way titles were made, I basically love everything about this book. Few poems moved me, made me cry, made me go all nostalgia about the good old days.
I ended up re-reading most of the chapters over and over, it gave me a new perspective every damn time. This book will always stay closer to my heart and to my desk, so I can randomly open the book and read any random poem. I genuinely want everyone to read this book, this will make your heart and soul so happy and so full.
“What greater gift than this moment in time, this heart-beat in the night?”
November 16, 2023
September was my travel month and I chose to take Ruskin Bond's I Was The Wind Last Night with me. I travelled via plane, rickshaw, tuktuk, walks and cars and this book accompanied me everywhere.
This book was the pick for September for the Ruskin Bond book club. A collection of poetries, this one has poems on various topics and themes. The poems have been divided into different sections and are quite fun and heartwarming to read.
Bits of humour, simplicity, life lessons, love for nature are all mingled in this set of poems. This collection was special to me because I got it in return of one of the initial freelance writing work I did.
Pick up this book from @speakingtiger on a winter morning and enjoy it. 🌈
This book was the pick for September for the Ruskin Bond book club. A collection of poetries, this one has poems on various topics and themes. The poems have been divided into different sections and are quite fun and heartwarming to read.
Bits of humour, simplicity, life lessons, love for nature are all mingled in this set of poems. This collection was special to me because I got it in return of one of the initial freelance writing work I did.
Pick up this book from @speakingtiger on a winter morning and enjoy it. 🌈
February 10, 2018
Beautiful title, beautiful cover image and a beautiful collection of Ruskin Bond's poems on people, places, emotions and nature.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews