Roses from a female poet

Reviewed by Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa

Vinita Karunaratne

As a book launch, the event was replete with a whole series of characteristics of its own.

It was, to begin with, a synthesis between the formal and the personal.

In spite of the routine items, that are invariable facets of events of this ilk, a heart-warning atmosphere of a family-reunion dominated the evening.

Then there was the unmistakable feminine touch. Each female visitor to the book launch, was offered an elegantly presented red rose, transforming it into the charming signature motif of the get-together.

The distinguished chief guest at the book launch was the eminent educationist G. Gunasekera. As strange luck would have it, her first name "Goolbai" is the Persian work for Rose.

Lyrical blossom

The anthology of poetry launched in this alluring ambience, is filled "Another rose for the garland." The author, who presents this lyrical blossom to the public domain is poet Vinitha Karunaratne. (Though the expression "poetess" is at times used to denot a female poet, that usage is currently a wee bit passe.)

Poet Vinitha Karunaratne, made her publication debut, about a decade ago with her A Garland of Poems . In that quite intriguing anthology of poems, she gathered together an extensive series of compositions, that took the readers by surprise, with its sheer variety. The astonishing range of the array of themes of her poetry in that initial effort was eloquent witness to her keen interest in the variegated parade of characters, events and places.

Poetic concept

I approached her current anthology her second - with a vestigial trace of hesitation. The present series of poetry by Vinitha Karunaratne, re-awakened within me the childhood memory of an impressive poetic concept. That poet from my childhood, is enthralled by the delectable song of a warbler.

She wonders how this singing bird would 're-capture", its first careless rapture.

An identical attitude stirred within me, when she produced her second work. Will she be able to "recapture" here her first "careless rapture", that suffused her initial series of poetry? I was surprised no end, by the pleasant discovery that she has been preeminently successful in "recapturing" her initial creative ardour.

That is not all. In the present work, she has been able to elevate the earlier poetic joy, into fresh ecstatic heights. When you enter her poetic realm, you experience how her imaginative dexterity takes wing, and roams freely across a vast vanity of climes and situations absorbing experience relating to persons and places.

In her flights of poetic fancy, she touches an extensive range of themes. Some of them are contemporary, current and even ephemeral. Others are ever-lasting and perennial. Whatever may be the thematic quality of her subject matter her deft poetry imparts a kind of permanence to it.

The spiritual dimension of her poetic thought, is vividly represented by an extensive series of poems, relating to religion. "From Birth to Enlightenment - as the Buddha", narrates succinctly the progress of Prince Siddhartha, from worldly life to Supreme Enlightenment.

What is remarkable and highly impressive about the personality of poet Vinitha Karunaratne, is that, she lives and breathes poetry. Her total being seems to pulsate with poetry. There is hardly any phenomenon she will fail to convert to poetry.

Poet Vinitha Karunaratne is poetically alert at all times. I tend to believe that poetry hovers even over her sleep and dreams. To my mind she travels poetically - so to speak.

We come upon a whole series of poetic travelogues, that celebrate her memories and experiences of the places she visited during her extensive wanderings. "On board the Wilhelm Tell", "Ride in the Golden Pass", "Autumn in London" are several of the pieces inspired by her voyages.

Travel experience

One specific poem, derived from her travel experiences, has won extensive accolades from readers. Titled "On Air Canada". This piece could very well be characterized and an ""Aerial Fantasy". The poet's inventive skills are dramatically displayed in this piece.

While in a Trans-Atlantic Flight, the poet slumbers off into a keenly romantic dream. The poem keeps the reader immensely absorbed and leads to a denouement that brings the reader down to earth with a telling thud. The poem provides a revealing inkling of the creative mischief the poet is capable of. The two concluding lines clinch it all:

"I looked at my neighbour, as if out of the blue.
He smiled, "You had a good sleep didn't you?"

The poem is a gem, that will continue to adorn the memory of many a reader.

The writer is keen to keep poetic notes of places she visits. In the poem titled "Rome", she takes note of the rhythm implicit in "Every little detail from curtain to tussle".

Feel of the fall

The poet's lyrical rendering of "Autumn in London", adeptly evokes the Feel of the Fall, that colourfully forewarns the impending on - set of all white winter.

The reader of this anthology, should specifically focus, I believe, on her poem titled "Adventure Wax Museum". Without much of an effort, the poet communicates in this piece, an inner emotional complexity, in a profoundly moving form of poetic expression.

The poet has lost her way, among Madame Tussauds' Wax works. She is bewildered among the wax effigies of horror and honour. What an intricate experience for a deeply sensitive poet!

Poet Vinitha Karunaratne's poetic effort, possesses the compelling power of stark simplicity.

She does not strive after studied effects. Creating appealing imagery is not her pre occupation.

But her poetry is brilliantly articulate. Largely because of her profound creative sincerity.

The joy she revives from her creations is an admirable humane response.

I will not forget for a long while, how she walked about, clutching a bouquet to her chest as if in a dazed trance.

In brief she is poet, as she exudes the beautiful and elegant quality, that poetry should.