Unfettered, Ananya Guru Sangameshwar's first poetry book, is hot off the press. With this, she has taken her love for writing, which she has been working on since class IX, to the next level. Unfettered is a potpourri of poems ranging from themes like pain, positivity, wacky ideas to even writing about the struggles of waking up in the morning. "More than that, these are poems about everyday experiences, small things that often go unnoticed," explains the 19-year-old. The main poem, Unfettered, is about getting away from voices that put you down and breaking free from them. It is one of her favourite poems and should give you an essence of what to expect from her debut collection of poems.
So, what gets Ananya's poetic brain ticking? Inspiration is never out of reach for Ananya, who was born in Visakhapatnam and brought up in Hyderabad, especially when nature is close by. "Whenever I feel down, I turn to nature. I take a walk and automatically feel inspired. Even if I look up at the sky, I feel rejuvenated," says Ananya, who is clearly a nature lover. She loves bird watching and participates in clean-up drives. Poetry comes as naturally to her as her love for nature, "It just flows," she describes and, at the same time, expresses dismay over the fact that she isn't writing as much poetry as she would like to, given the fact that she is pursuing her UG in Communications and Media, English and Psychology from Christ University, Bengaluru which is keeping her busy. "Poetry is my passion, it helps me feel good and also helps me connect with myself," she says and adds that she doesn't just like writing poetry, she also likes analysing and discussing them. "I will read any genre of poetry," she shares and laughs.
One of Ananya's poems:
Ode to a tree
Just uttering the word ‘Tree’
Fills my heart with immense glee.
Dear Tree, I dedicate this poesy,
To thee, who’s so special to me.
Your beautiful love-filled canopy
Silently listens and gives me company.
It is under your protective arms,
That I feel safe, secure and calm.
The music of the birds, the rhythm of the breeze,
The dance of your troupe fill me with peace.
As the Heavens shower blessings,
You grow, spreading your wings.
Yet, as I glimpse the dew-dropped tears,
I can feel a tinge of your sorrows and fears.
The deep sorrow and stinging pain
That your fellow beings have been slain.
The fears that one dark day,
Your life may also be chopped away.
Yet you stand tall in firm belief,
That from your tears will spring forth, a fresh leaf.
I know not whether to bow in gratitude
Or beg for forgiveness for our follies.
I’ll just do both and be your friend,
And fight for your cause until the very end.
