You have been warned, do not read this book if you are petrified by the mere mention of reality, rawness, emotions, or existence. ‘Posies’ is a collection of poetries where the writer touches upon myriad colors of life from celebrating womanhood, finding meaning in a world full of meaninglessness, accepting the self, to drowning in the glory of love, wallowing in emotions and the state of depression, and even reveling in the matters of life and death. A modern-day writer bringing you face-to-face with the dilemmas of our modern world, she will leave you questioning with her mundane musings and inquisitive inklings.
Moushmi Radhanpara is a poet and a writer of multiple genres. She is the author of Posies, 03:21 AM, Resignation of an Angel, Posies Redefined, and Girl Woman Goddess. Her poetry has been published in various online literary magazines, and is a contributing writer for a few anthology collections.
Normal outside and a little complicated inside, Moushmi obviously holds a PhD in overthinking. But having achieved a Master's in English Literature and in Women and Gender Studies, she aspires to obtain an actual doctorate in the future.
She prefers living in a fantasy world, finding refuge in a mirage of words- reading and writing. Haunted by humans, Moushmi gets high on coffee and chocolates along with her best friend (books), sarcasm, and sunsets, while wondering how the world would look like if honesty and humanity were in trend.
Join her on her latest adventures and dark humour here. She promises not to spam you with overwhelming and excessive content:
'Posies' is a poetry collection that perfectly combines aesthetically pleasing writing and deep content which doesn't lose its essence by being put into constraining lyrics. Gosh, I wish I could lyrics that have this kind of musicality while keeping the meaning of what I'm trying to say intact! I was delighted to find out that this book didn't resemble other modern-day poetry collections that just consist of few words being separated by space bars and fancy punctuation - a genre I fail to enjoy. Instead, 'Posies' kept the more traditional form of poetry while the subjects presented couldn't be more relevant to today.
"Omnipresence of Life and Death": This first part beautifully reflects people's fear of mortality and the worry if managing to live our lives fully enough so we can accept death - or at least not have regrets - when he comes. The poems have a special climax so the reader is, at first, horrified, thinking about the inevitability of death and about how short existence truly is and, then, is soothened by the idea that happiness and its pursuit can help ease the agonizing fear of perishing. It's very special how such scary thoughts brought me almost a sense of relief through the aesthetic lyrics and the knowledge that someone else has the same unanswered, torturing questions and has transformed them into touching poetry. The poem that stood out to me was "The Await of Spring", as I deeply appreciate references to nature and the analogy of human emotions to the seasons and functions of the natural environment.
"My Mood of Quarantine": Getting to the second part, we move from the trouble caused to us by trying to find our place in the universe, to the trouble caused by trying to find our place within ourselves. This part's definitely heart-felt and the climax can be clearly seen here as well, since we start with pessimistic poems about the helplessness of trying to discover how to be sane and we finish up with "The Bygone Hoax" which starts off with sad lyrics and ends with a beautiful message of self-acceptance and growth that I think readers will find most encouraging. However, the poem I felt the closes to was "A Lover's Lament", since I felt some lyrics very deep in my heart.
"Modern Woes": The book continues with the very sensitive subject of mental health. 'Modern Woes' feels like a powerful outcry against the ignorance people tend to show to mental health issues. In this part, issues like depression and anxiety are presented gently, yet bare, no sugarcoating and most defintely, no taboo, since the author herself states that mental heatlh should be treated in the same way physical health is. This part includes some of the most raw lyrics of the whole book that perfectly put into metaphors the feeling of despair. It represents the sadness that overflows us when we seem to not have an obvious reason to be sad. Poems like "Locked in An Inferno" felt like a cry for help with lyrics that most of us can relate to. And if not relate, at least get alarmed by the need to check on our loved ones show interest in their mental health.
"The Eternal Utopia": After the heart-breaking poetry that came first, we now enter a still melancholic, but now inspiring and encouraging part to make up our moods XD. I think this is best represented by "I Smell and Reek Today", which we saw before us a sorrowful poem, giving its place to a different, revived version of itself. To me"The Eternal Utopia" represents the part of us that, admitting to not being okay, fights to find happiness in everything - and succeeds.
"Myriad Shades of Love": This part is, as the title indicates, dedicated to love, in all of its forms and expressions, with an emphasis on romantic love. Words spoken with pure idealism - which might be exaggerating for some - by a person that seems to hold a lot of devotion in their heart. Especially, a verse from "A Love Letter" manage to speak to me.
''A Quest of Self-Worthiness": Another heartfelt fragment about trying hard to fit in and about doubting your worth. As a teenager in the process of finding who I wanna be and then sadly realizing that that's not who the world wants me to be, I appreciated these words, with 'A Writer" being my favorite one.
"Celebrating the Only Constant; Books": OMG, I was so excited to find a part dedicated to books!! Perfect for bibliophiles and authors/poets alike.
"Nature Never Did Betray": As I said before, I am a sucker for poems hailing the beauty of nature and connecting it with moods. The beauty of nature does motivate both our melancholy and will to fight for happiness, and I found that thought present in the poetry of this fragment.
"A Monochrome of Meaninglessness": Wow... this part. Just... this part. It took my breath away in the sense that it left me breathless, panting while reading. It was almost scary, the anxious sequence of lyrics describing the emotions caused to people by the fast-paced, nervous rhythms of modern life in complicated societies that make us feel detached from others and from ourselves. That's what this section represented for me.
"The Other Sex": Now, this was the real deal. Hands down my favorite section of the book, it called my feminist soul to participate in the ongoing revolution for women's rights! I viewed this last part as a celebration of how all women can be equally badass even though they lead different lifestyles and have different priorities. As a celebration of the equality women before us achieved with hard battles. I have to leave a trigger warning here for subjects like sexual abuse being mentioned - however keep in mind that such sensitive issues are handled with lyrical care. Damn, though, these poems hit phallocracy and patriarchy in the guts. An epic denouncement of toxic masulinity and violence against women. A powerful outcry against the stereotypical roles given to women, against the second place they've given us. To be honest, I haven't seen such strong lyrics about feminism since the 90s punk-rock Grrrl Riot!
Posies by Moushmi Randhapara is a collection of poems that touch your heart with an intensity and a beauty that I cannot describe in mere words. The poems speak to you and they do it for you. They tell you you're important, that you matter. What else could we need, eh?
Her poems are mainly written on the basis of her own struggles and growth, but they are relatable for anyone who has found it difficult to understand the world, felt like they don't fit and has constantly tried to be the best version of themselves, more for themselves than for anyone else. And that's what I loved the most about this collection, she writes how love and kindness are important, but more importantly, how love for yourself and being kind towards your own self is more important. Her poems talk about love, care, passion, books, strength, and so much more. Some of my favorites include A Rebel Girl and Not a Strong Woman amongst many others.
What do you understand when you read the above lines? Strength? Power? Belief? I felt them all.
And no, I did not read the book in one sitting because it is not a book you read at once. It is something you come back to, again and again, to calm your soul, to tell yourself, 'It's okay, Laeba. You got this. Your wings got this. The fire inside you has got this.' I, for one, am goingto do this. You should too.
Thank you Moushmi for trusting me with this piece of your heart, now it's one of mine too.
Other than this, a few other points for a first book: the cover is simple yet elegant, definitely something you remember. Second, it doesn't feel like it's her first book. It's almost as if she's been doing this her whole life!
Let me start by stating that I am not a reader of poetry. I am not a consumer of words that present themselves in metaphors and sentences that alliterate. I have always preferred prose, stories, pages and pages of a world that a book brings with itself. That said, while reviewing Posies, I put my bias at bay and kept an open mind. Here is what a little introduction to the book will read like:
'Posies' is a deeply thought and a well compiled book.The various phases of life from birth till death briefly yet so smartly put together into words. It comprises of different views about the author's experiences,very skillfully put into poems. The semi-anonymity of the book’s authorship is critical to understanding its blunt and honest poems. They express feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, isolation, and depression, charting frustrating attempts to pierce the dark shroud that encloses their narrator. The entries probe childhood experiences and the lingering effects of abuse, their focus sharp. Some poems suggest other topics, such as mental illness, but the underlying theme is a unified one, of overcoming obstacles. Each word hits home, first seeming to convey a mere sliver of emotion, but suggesting the presence of much more underneath.
If I am given one word to describe "Posies", the word will be “Sensitive” and that is because all the issues it addresses and all the feelings it portrays are nothing if not sensitive. It is hard to believe to that the book is author’s first as the writing seems so mature that the fact is rather difficult to digest.
Posies by Moushmi Radhanpara @aesthetic_miradh is a book of poetry that reads like a memoir of a young woman's journey through a life of innocence, pain, love, loneliness, self hate, self love and growth.
From the dedication to the last stanza we are shown the writer's vulnerability, humbleness, grace, and hope. Starting with the angst of Love Me The Way I Love You to the fierce Rebel Girl we root for her to see it's not all dread and gloom that she can succeed in life and she doesn't disappoint us in shining through with hopefulness and a fighting spirit.
One of my favorite poems is I Am Tired. It so perfectly expresses how often I feel "...tired of everything, of having to suck it up, tired of smiling with pain, I am only a little tired to start all over again". When I read Dried Ink with the lines "...I have found solace in my pen, I have bled through its ink..." I just held my breath and kept reading in awe. Each poem is a revelation. My favorite poem is Carpediem. I will end with this perfect equation of words:
Maybe just for a little while I'll let the passion free Let go of the dead weight I'll just let it all be as if nothing matters and I am just me.
I am tearing up just typing this stanza. During this weird strange time we are all experiencing do yourself a favor an own this book of poetry. It is a journey so worth taking to know others feel what you feel at your lowest and highest and everything in between.
I received a free copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book is a creation which not only depicts the author's feeling but also the day to day mindset of people what they face , how they dream and live their life. I don't read much of books but when I read this gem its a completely new experience and deep down now I can guess why people like to read poetry
This is going to be an amazing book, the true realities of life, of death, and of what women face in their day to day lives are brilliantly portrayed in this collection. Today people do not accept themselves, who and how they are, there is lack of confidence and fear of uncertainty. The poems in the book bring forward the realities in the most starking way.
This book was so amazing! I highly recommend this to everyone who loves to read because the author has a flair for woving words into beautiful poems which will captivate you and leave you wanting for more. The kind of poems you can read a hundred times and still not be satiated.
The initial segment wonderfully mirrors individuals' dread of mortality and the concern if figuring out how to live our lives completely enough so we can acknowledge passing - or if nothing else not have laments - when he comes. The sonnets have an extraordinary peak so the peruser is, from the start, stunned, contemplating the certainty of death and about how short presence genuinely is and, at that point, is soothened by the possibility that bliss and its interest can help facilitate the horrifying trepidation of dying. The book proceeds with the extremely delicate subject of emotional well-being. It feels like an incredible objection against the numbness individuals will in general show to emotional well-being issues. Right now, similar to melancholy and nervousness are introduced tenderly, yet uncovered, no glossing over and most defintely, no unthinkable, since the creator herself expresses that psychological heatlh ought to be treated similarly physical wellbeing is.
We move from the difficulty caused to us by attempting to discover our place known to man, to the difficulty brought about by attempting to discover our place inside ourselves. This current part's unquestionably genuine and the peak can be plainly observed here too, since we start with critical sonnets about the vulnerability of attempting to find how to be rational. The poet kept the more customary type of verse while the subjects introduced couldn't be increasingly pertinent to today.
A genuine piece about making a decent attempt to fit in and about questioning your value. Nature never does betray- This part delineates excellence of nature motivates both our despairing and will to battle for satisfaction, and I found that idea present in the verse of this piece.
Overall, the genuine real factors of life, of death, and of what women face in their everyday lives are splendidly depicted. Today individuals don't acknowledge themselves, who and how they are, there is absence of certainty and dread of vulnerability. The sonnets in the book present the real factors in the most starking way.
This is an amazing collection of poetry filled with a plethora of emotion written in an absolutely perfect way. It is not an easy read by any means, but with patience, one can learn to peek under the hood of poems and see the complex and intricate thoughts woven together by the author.
I highlighted so many poems from this, which will stick with me for a long time coming. This collection was empowering, ethereal and exquisite. The topics of pain, self worth , love, womanhood, mental health, feminism and so much more were excellent. I really loved this. It gave me the chills, and it gave me so many emotions. It was gentle but it was fierce and it was strong and it was everything I needed right now.
I think poetry is all about how you feel when you read it, and I did personally connect with the majority of the poems. With that being said, that is very much just a personal reaction in terms to my emotional connection with the poems and my own discovery of taste and preference when it comes to poetry (of which I still haven’t totally found my stance yet). So there’s no doubt that many of these poems are wonderfully written and full of raw emotion, that I’m sure many will be able to connect and relate to more so than I did. When someone puts their thoughts into a poem, it takes time to decipher the meaning behind, sometimes you do and sometimes you don't but I really, thoroughly enjoyed this collection and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
However my favourite poems were A Free Fall, I Am Tired, A Writer, Dried Ink, A Rebel Girl, The Screaming Silence, A Phoenix In Disguise, Not A Strong Woman and so many more....😊
Imagine leaning over an old moss covered brim of a well and peeping in. But instead of brackish water, you find emotions, all popping and sizzling like freshly opened soda, jostling for space. Some are sharp and fiery, some are of abuse-induced trauma, some of dark depression and loneliness, but they also amazingly convey hope and a sense of impending victory. Now imagine if the weathered soul to whose life experiences this well of emotions belongs to, is able to express all of them in poetry, that is what "Posies" is.
Emotions ranging from our primal fears, the struggle with our identity and place in the world, mental health issues, our isolated lifestyles, and feminism dominate this set of beautifully worded poems. I loved "chimera" which shows us the carefree world of a person without worldly ambition, and ends with a question. "carpediem" that assures us that it is okay to sit still, once a while, to release us to ourselves, letting the world's expectations pass us by. And "The azure morning" where wind blows in ruffling hair, reminding us of the "hot white song of you and me".
Even though the writer is female and this is a celebration of womanhood, I was surprised to find myself relating to many of the poems, despite being a man. So this book is not for the ladies alone. But for a gift to a lady who reads, better than this I've seen none. Some words may be tough, but the editing is tight. 4.5/5, go for it!🙂
Let your hearts wander wrong Keep your passions strong, Thoughtless and thoughtful- make your spirit Savor the presented temporary bliss.
You read that.And I am sure you are hooked to these lines just the way I am This is what a reading experience is all about, Moushmi touches, tests, pushes, strokes, inspires, and I have given this little book my heart. This book of her will captivate your mind with thoughts and heart with emotions.There is this one poem " I have lost it all"- honestly it was way too depressing, those raw emotion it's like someone has poured the dilemma of broken person And then comes " A love letter"- This one is special it has a special space in my heart I am so so connected to this poem that I can't even describe in words... As I read every poem with my own pace, turning page after page I found out there are poems which will make you meet reality and verses full of empathy so To be honest this is a delightful read because this book makes you want to know more about the world around us,and it even inspires you to not to be afraid of your own late night intimidtate thoughts or even that mirage feeling of utopia. The poems hit you hard as they must.But more than anything these verses of poem will teach you to see different sides of the story, various thoughts with which people live and ones that also go unheard... More glory to writing and musings!
Posies - This is a Treasure.!! A variety of ideas spoken aloud, amidst which a humane touch sneaks through... A wholesome book introducing us to a piece of our own selves with every other poem.!! Some verses short, some verses long, But the meaning within is knit so strong.!! Moushmi has so many emotions flowing down this stream but holds alight the bottom-line of it all... You cannot control life’s every nook and corner But you can fight the raging battles wearing a smiling armour, You cannot live your life happy, without regrets But you can harbor memories until your life’s sun, sets. Let your hearts wander wrong Keep your passions strong, Thoughtless and thoughtful- make your spirit Savor the presented temporary bliss.
The first word that comes to mind after reading this book is just "wow". What a collection of poem she has written... The words she has used in every poem are very much heart touching, lots of emotions flow through them that every women face in different stages of life. At last I would just say that she has found the courage to change things that should be changed. And yes someone has said that happiness is bigger than any bank account. Her poems believe in this, they follow and aim for nothing but happiness and peace, an epitome of different kind of power. After this book now I am definitely sure that there are many more books or collection of poetries to come from this budding writer in near future.
What's poetry if not an amalgamation of words that pierce through you body & reach deep in your soul, right?
Posies turned out to be a perfect book of this sort for me. The blurb of this poetry book warns readers of the rawness and emotions in the poems in book. And I completely stand by this warning as all the poems have been crafted so beautifully with such high emotional appeal that they leave such a deep impact in our heart & stir our soul indeed.
Posies is a collection of amazing poetry covering a multitude of topics on which we all ponder every now and then. All our ponderings on pain, mental health, feminism, womanhood & so much more have been impeccably penned in this book encompassing myriad of emotions. One can not help but feel the raw sentiments drawn in the poems and the immaculate thoughts of the author driving these masterpieces. I was personally able to relate to so many, and reading those gave me a high & low at the same time, for the reality in poems hit me hard..!!
I have many favourites from the book - Posies, Rumination, The Bygone Hoax, The Silent Song, Reverie, A monochrome mortal, The Amassing Venegeance, Painful smiles, Myriad feelings, An eerie romance, A rebel girl... Poetry lovers must go for this book..!!
Posies is not just an ordinary culmination of thoughts but a journey of a kind of soo many emotions that a person goes through at some point at different stages in life.
Every emotion is quite relatable and at the same time subjective.
Do highly recommend it, its a complied version of all the human emotions just in one book.
My personal favourite sections were "A quest of self wothiness & Myraid of love"
The book POSIES is a poetry book. I read it as if I were not planning to review it. I just enjoy the book. I read every poem, but not necessarily in order; one of the things I love about poetry books is that they don’t have to be read sequentially. You're either interested in poetry, or you're not....i can say that one reason i particularly enjoyed this collection of poems is because its full of emotions n feelings. All the poems are very realistic
This beautiful collection of poetries by one of my favorite writers is a beautiful collectionof variety of topics captivating loneliness and faces of life in the most honest way. The words are soul-stirring and equally impactful. We walk through different seasons of emotions feeling empty and whole at the same time. Beautifully crafted words presented most simply.No emotion is trivial , is what these poetries made me feel!
The author will take you on a journey of pain and pride through heart and soul. The poems are directly talking to the women and all that they conceal in their hearts. The suffering and strength and the turning of suffering into strength has been so precisely and beautifully written that one cannot help but re read some parts over and again.
I am not a professional book reader but recently I started my journey of book reading from this amazing book . It really reminded me my school days when I used to read my English literature books and I really want that my kids would read all this poems in their books . This book has a deep meaning and will definitely affect the reader's life . One of the best book.EVER. ❤️
Posies is a book that will make you think from the trivial aspects of your life to the most important questions of the universe. The author has done an artistic job in bringing her emotions into life with her words. The words that will move you to the core. . . It is a collection of thoughts and questions that the author has experienced in her life. The thoughts that made her breathless in the day and sleepless at night. Her book flows through different emotions and stages, bringing forth a plethora of beautifully crafted poems. . . I enjoyed the very many poems that related to my life and made me connect with the words instantly. The essence of feminism and the long thought beauty of love were so well put that it had me in trance at many places. Though there were words and phrases which I thought need not be that complex, simple words do make for beautiful poetry. It's the rawness and the honesty of the poet had me in awe.
As a debut poetry collection this was definitely a commendable work, specially when the work is full of meaning and yet dealing with issues like existentialism, feminism, mental health care and much more.
I am not so fond of poetry coz they always r imaginary but after reading posies I have changed my mind content is real practical and touches your heart do give it a read fabulous book
Covering everything from love and freedom to protest and body images, dip in and embrace words of beauty on a daily basis. Plus, it's a beauty to hold.... :)
This is an amazing book which depicts the true reality of life. We can see the journey of a young girl through the poems.Every emotional is quite relatable and at the same time subjective.