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The Profane: Poems
'The Profane is a note from the underground, a message being sent from an island on fire, an email shot off at three in the morning. This is to say that Sarna's book is one of vulnerability, loneliness, joy, humour, hope and grief. It's a human book which tells us it's okay to be human.' - Matthew Dickman 'Sarna has something rich and meaningful to communicate, and the lyric sensibility, love of language, beat and rhyme, and inventive zest to bring alive on the page all the vividness and pleasure and plangency of life. This is a book to savour and treasure for all the years it will stand on your shelf.' - Chandrahas ChoudhuryA witches' brew of art, politics, religion and mythology, The Profane is rich with music and images. Here are poems of heartbreak and disillusion, of loneliness and mortality, but also of passion for life on earth, in all its mud and glory. In the pages of this collection, Kurt Cobain, Napoleon and Amir Khusro meet, and Homeric tough guys get what they deserve. Satyajit Sarna's vision embraces our broken world and salutes the one chance we get to experience it.
109 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 7, 2018
Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Disclaimer: A physical copy was provided via Harper Collins Indiain exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
Poetry has a very special place in my heart and poets held in high esteem – which is why I do my best to be objective while reviewing poetry books; yet I will not ask any of the readers to treat my rating as an absolute.
In PROFANE, the poet Sarna talks about a myriad of emotions – loss, love, hope, happiness and loneliness – all of which the author has done a brilliant job of expressing them in ways that would touch the heart of any soul.
This is a collection of poetry that will have something for everyone & the author shows an immense talent when penning down thoughts that might seem to be only yours but is also everyone else’s – something that makes sure that you won’t feel alone in the vast world.
"In love, as in all things,
we choose with our feet,
not with our hearts, not with our claims,
not with the stars calling out our names.
If you picked up your bag
and walked through the door,
you meant to, you know it.
There is nothing to apologize for."
So go forth, and find yourself in between the pages of this collection of poetry.
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
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May 2, 2021
"There are wheels within circles,
and circles within eyes.
All of Plato's dreams are like this –
funereal scenes, where no sun glitters,
a dark night without form,
everything a vein under tracing paper,
grey and lazy, blustering
a hazy retinue on a wall
of horses, men, crowns,
schools, seashells, wine and fish
to sequence by hand,
tail to tip, into cedar halls,
marble floors, kingdoms without histories,
negating the tyranny of time,
who shall have no dominion, sail no fear
on the ceaseless sea of the mind."
// Plato's Dreams
The title of Sarna's debut collection clearly indicates all the irreverent poems it contains. The "sacred" has no meaning for him but it is also not obscenity for obscenity's sake. His poems are suffused with wit, a stunning clarity of thought that translates into short but very successful poems. This lightness doesn't mean that they are simplistic, it is a slight deception hiding Sarna's virtuosity. Formally, the poems tilt towards classical but he makes them contemporaneous through a careful selection of subjects and subtle tweaks.
The ancient and the modern meet also in terms of literary allusions and intertextuality. From Peleus and Ozymandias to Botticelli and Mother Mary, people are out of place and placed out time to serve Sarna's poetic vision. The longer sequences, one as a conversation with Khusro about Delhi's mutability and another as a ballad series advising young lovers, show his range. Wry humour permeating here, Sarna letting us know that he is very uninterested in clear-cut idealizations by depicting us humans as we are, not unrealistic abstractions. Definitely give this one a go!
and circles within eyes.
All of Plato's dreams are like this –
funereal scenes, where no sun glitters,
a dark night without form,
everything a vein under tracing paper,
grey and lazy, blustering
a hazy retinue on a wall
of horses, men, crowns,
schools, seashells, wine and fish
to sequence by hand,
tail to tip, into cedar halls,
marble floors, kingdoms without histories,
negating the tyranny of time,
who shall have no dominion, sail no fear
on the ceaseless sea of the mind."
// Plato's Dreams
The title of Sarna's debut collection clearly indicates all the irreverent poems it contains. The "sacred" has no meaning for him but it is also not obscenity for obscenity's sake. His poems are suffused with wit, a stunning clarity of thought that translates into short but very successful poems. This lightness doesn't mean that they are simplistic, it is a slight deception hiding Sarna's virtuosity. Formally, the poems tilt towards classical but he makes them contemporaneous through a careful selection of subjects and subtle tweaks.
The ancient and the modern meet also in terms of literary allusions and intertextuality. From Peleus and Ozymandias to Botticelli and Mother Mary, people are out of place and placed out time to serve Sarna's poetic vision. The longer sequences, one as a conversation with Khusro about Delhi's mutability and another as a ballad series advising young lovers, show his range. Wry humour permeating here, Sarna letting us know that he is very uninterested in clear-cut idealizations by depicting us humans as we are, not unrealistic abstractions. Definitely give this one a go!
October 13, 2018
What does Profane really mean?
The Google meaning says "Not Relating to that which is sacred or Religious, Secular."
Though the book is something that is actually sacred as the words and the power that those poems hold in them is something which one cannot define. The book is a fine work of Art and Literature.
The book contains in all 102 poems and every poem has a way of expressing themselves and will sway you away in the world of emotions and Words.
Satyajit Sarna has spoke about Love, Loss, Humanity, Regret, Sadness, Loneliness in such a graceful manner.
Harper Collins truly knows the worthy poets.
Some of the poems that had my heart on the sleeve are Saltspears, Ship of Fools, and Patience.
Two phrases from Patience that made my heart melt and my mind blown:
How long will you read
From a single book of prayer?
And then which one is holier,
the scripture or your eye?
How long will you lend
Love to the graceless suitor?
And if you don't redeem it,
Why should this lover try?
Still not a Poetry lover though a thumbs up for this one.
The Google meaning says "Not Relating to that which is sacred or Religious, Secular."
Though the book is something that is actually sacred as the words and the power that those poems hold in them is something which one cannot define. The book is a fine work of Art and Literature.
The book contains in all 102 poems and every poem has a way of expressing themselves and will sway you away in the world of emotions and Words.
Satyajit Sarna has spoke about Love, Loss, Humanity, Regret, Sadness, Loneliness in such a graceful manner.
Harper Collins truly knows the worthy poets.
Some of the poems that had my heart on the sleeve are Saltspears, Ship of Fools, and Patience.
Two phrases from Patience that made my heart melt and my mind blown:
How long will you read
From a single book of prayer?
And then which one is holier,
the scripture or your eye?
How long will you lend
Love to the graceless suitor?
And if you don't redeem it,
Why should this lover try?
Still not a Poetry lover though a thumbs up for this one.
December 18, 2018
First of all, damn I really liked the cover sooo much.The cover is designed by Amit Malhotra. Truly,it’s really intriguing and beautiful. Okay so let me tell me you something about this book is, you will find touch of Amir Khusro and Kurt Cobain in his poems. You will find something freshness in his words, in his works. Infact you don’t need to find any answer about his work at all, just look at the cover, you will get to know what’s inside this book, what he really wants to imply to his readers. You will find 102 beautiful poems that will keep you sunken into reading for long time. Bounded up a human being and the impact of our life, how we grip or lose it, pangs or emotions , love or pain, loneliness and hope. Each and every poems are outstanding and composed to life, loss, love and dejection. Try this book, if you are a poetry lover then trust me, you will simply end up loving this book. Thanks a lot Harpercollins for sending me this extraordinary book to review. I would love to rate 4/5
October 6, 2018
You know you have a keeper, the moment you lay your eyes on the book cover, and it speaks to you in a thousand little ways. A little book of wondrous surprises is ‘The Profane’. Satyajit Sarna’s The Profane has 102 poems, from which I loved many, but a few of many adorned a special place in my heart; Let me tell you about Delhi, Patience, and Kaleja are a few of them.
Opening Sentence: I've read this - that plants emit light.
How long will you read
from a single book of prayer?
And then which one is holier,
The scripture or your eye?
How long will you serve
that single wretched master?
And then which one is heavier,
the burden or your sigh?
In ‘The Profane’, Author Sarna has written poems that span the myriads of emotions a human goes through his entire life. To see his assemblage of work is simply astounding. He writes about love, loss, and loneliness in very humane and personal level, but he also has given readers reflections on the melancholy and life of ever developing us. Let me tell you about Delhi, Patience and Kaleja moved me on a very deep level.
The author lays his hands on the pulse of the thing and gives you fodder for thought. The unfamiliar, the familiar, loneliness, poverty, regret, sadness and joy, giving them all the respect.
Satyajit has an extraordinary relationship with words. The poems in The Profane vary in form and emotions. Satyajit’s poems play with language in wry ways that make one smile, some contain an entire world in them, others transform words into images that stare back at the reader.
You have to be a true lover of words to understand the shock of emotions it throws at you. The subtle sensuality of poems gives you sheen of satisfaction. Trust me you’ll want this one on your bookshelf.
Opening Sentence: I've read this - that plants emit light.
How long will you read
from a single book of prayer?
And then which one is holier,
The scripture or your eye?
How long will you serve
that single wretched master?
And then which one is heavier,
the burden or your sigh?
In ‘The Profane’, Author Sarna has written poems that span the myriads of emotions a human goes through his entire life. To see his assemblage of work is simply astounding. He writes about love, loss, and loneliness in very humane and personal level, but he also has given readers reflections on the melancholy and life of ever developing us. Let me tell you about Delhi, Patience and Kaleja moved me on a very deep level.
The author lays his hands on the pulse of the thing and gives you fodder for thought. The unfamiliar, the familiar, loneliness, poverty, regret, sadness and joy, giving them all the respect.
Satyajit has an extraordinary relationship with words. The poems in The Profane vary in form and emotions. Satyajit’s poems play with language in wry ways that make one smile, some contain an entire world in them, others transform words into images that stare back at the reader.
You have to be a true lover of words to understand the shock of emotions it throws at you. The subtle sensuality of poems gives you sheen of satisfaction. Trust me you’ll want this one on your bookshelf.
October 2, 2018
BEEN A WHILE SINCE I READ SUCH GOOD POEMS 😄😊
My weekend has just begun. Ain't that a good feeling?
#qotd: what are you reading today? Is it a slow week? Well, nothing can be faster than reading poetry to feel you have accomplished another good reading run! One more book for your neurons! 🔍🥁🎆
@sarnaofdelhi and @harpercollinsin have collaborated all on the right notes. I love the idea of Harper choosing such an artist worthy of an ovation. The poems are a collection of ideas, thoughts, art and literature meeting sublimely and sometimes not sublimely at all. Some poems have been published beforehand and some give you an urge to leaf some pages which you must capture somewhere to be used in a random post on a poem like I do on my Instagram. The inspiration behind the poets captivation is apparent from his inspiration drawn from every walks of life. 👀
There are poems which talk about Peleus, the conversationalist addressing Amir Khushro about Delhi, mourners and grave diggers, Arsenal, lovemaking and much more! 📖📔📖📔📖
Some poems require inspection and some have ten different perceptions. Small sentences creating stories handpickled with humor, hope and grief. 🍈
Read this in less than 3 hours! My morning seems heavy and Scarlet now. The beauty of the poems is the imagination of the poet who has an excellent talent at work with The Profane!
I write poems of the same kind and feel, it's dark, enthralling and wise! ☣️
Read this small book packed with emotions! Not for the ones who don't like poetry. This is advanced stage of poetic justice. 💡📙📘📖📕📔📙📙📘📖
I rate this book: ✨✨✨✨✨/5 (Yeppp!!) 😉😄🥁
My weekend has just begun. Ain't that a good feeling?
#qotd: what are you reading today? Is it a slow week? Well, nothing can be faster than reading poetry to feel you have accomplished another good reading run! One more book for your neurons! 🔍🥁🎆
@sarnaofdelhi and @harpercollinsin have collaborated all on the right notes. I love the idea of Harper choosing such an artist worthy of an ovation. The poems are a collection of ideas, thoughts, art and literature meeting sublimely and sometimes not sublimely at all. Some poems have been published beforehand and some give you an urge to leaf some pages which you must capture somewhere to be used in a random post on a poem like I do on my Instagram. The inspiration behind the poets captivation is apparent from his inspiration drawn from every walks of life. 👀
There are poems which talk about Peleus, the conversationalist addressing Amir Khushro about Delhi, mourners and grave diggers, Arsenal, lovemaking and much more! 📖📔📖📔📖
Some poems require inspection and some have ten different perceptions. Small sentences creating stories handpickled with humor, hope and grief. 🍈
Read this in less than 3 hours! My morning seems heavy and Scarlet now. The beauty of the poems is the imagination of the poet who has an excellent talent at work with The Profane!
I write poems of the same kind and feel, it's dark, enthralling and wise! ☣️
Read this small book packed with emotions! Not for the ones who don't like poetry. This is advanced stage of poetic justice. 💡📙📘📖📕📔📙📙📘📖
I rate this book: ✨✨✨✨✨/5 (Yeppp!!) 😉😄🥁
November 13, 2018
Name- The Profane
Written By- Satyajit Sarna
Published By- HarperCollins
Pages- 102
Review-
There are several readers in the world who stick to specific genres. I belong to the rarer category who read books of almost every genre.
Amongst this vast genres of books that I reviewed, poetry books have been the toughest ones. Yet, Satyajit Sarna's "The Profane" had been an experience of another kind. The kind that gives you a sense of déjà vu, the kind that gives you jitters, and last but not the least, the kind that compels you to feel poetry that's written for everyone and based on everything the world has to offer.
I still remember the feeling I had when I read the poem "The Apology". It was like someone retold the exact words that we ponder upon every time and yet we fail to express our emotions in words when we make the greatest mistakes of our lives.
"Let me tell you about Delhi" was another of my favourites. It reminded me of my own visit. I felt the words with which Sarna drew the ccomparison between Delhi's previous condition and the way it is now, it was definitely something I agreed with.
The one that touched my heart and made me fall in love with poetry was "Patience". With the last lines of the poem
"How long will you lend
love to the graceless suitor?
And if you don't redeem it,
why should this lover try?"
Satyajit Sarna's The Profane, made a special place in my heart.
Written By- Satyajit Sarna
Published By- HarperCollins
Pages- 102
Review-
There are several readers in the world who stick to specific genres. I belong to the rarer category who read books of almost every genre.
Amongst this vast genres of books that I reviewed, poetry books have been the toughest ones. Yet, Satyajit Sarna's "The Profane" had been an experience of another kind. The kind that gives you a sense of déjà vu, the kind that gives you jitters, and last but not the least, the kind that compels you to feel poetry that's written for everyone and based on everything the world has to offer.
I still remember the feeling I had when I read the poem "The Apology". It was like someone retold the exact words that we ponder upon every time and yet we fail to express our emotions in words when we make the greatest mistakes of our lives.
"Let me tell you about Delhi" was another of my favourites. It reminded me of my own visit. I felt the words with which Sarna drew the ccomparison between Delhi's previous condition and the way it is now, it was definitely something I agreed with.
The one that touched my heart and made me fall in love with poetry was "Patience". With the last lines of the poem
"How long will you lend
love to the graceless suitor?
And if you don't redeem it,
why should this lover try?"
Satyajit Sarna's The Profane, made a special place in my heart.
May 23, 2019
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This book has become one of my favourites. I particularly liked his writing style and the way he conveyed the messages from his poems. Each of the poems speak of different emotions- loss, love, hatred and I feel that each of the emotions have been portrayed differently and done in a beautiful manner.
The concept of the poems are truly intriguing and will leave a lasting effect on your soul and mind. Also, i really loved the cover of the book.
' A sky of nickel and gunmetal.
Pierce it with a nail. It too will bleed. '
I really loved the poem 'Shirts' due to the ending. There are a number of poems in the book which is based on various themes and notions. If you are looking for a light poem book, please pick this up!
This book has become one of my favourites. I particularly liked his writing style and the way he conveyed the messages from his poems. Each of the poems speak of different emotions- loss, love, hatred and I feel that each of the emotions have been portrayed differently and done in a beautiful manner.
The concept of the poems are truly intriguing and will leave a lasting effect on your soul and mind. Also, i really loved the cover of the book.
' A sky of nickel and gunmetal.
Pierce it with a nail. It too will bleed. '
I really loved the poem 'Shirts' due to the ending. There are a number of poems in the book which is based on various themes and notions. If you are looking for a light poem book, please pick this up!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews