Many layers of meaning

Golden Cocoon –Kamani Jayasekera
Publisher: S . Godage.
Reviewed by Roshan Samarakoon

The Golden Cocoon is the fourth collection of poetry by Prof. Kamani Jayasekera.She is no novice to the field of creative literature in English in Sri Lanka. She has to her credit five collections of short stories as well. This collection bears the characteristics shown in her earlier writings. Her poetry is deceptively simple and addresses the emotions of the reader. But the poems are like onions as they contain several layers of meanings which confront the readers at different levels.

The fact compels the readers to read the poems several times. The philosophy behind the appearance strikes the reader with a certain impact. This becomes the reason for her writings to appeal to different levels of mentality and temperament.

Kamani is a writer who writes because she has something to say. And what she says is sharp and direct, while she retains the beauty of composition. The poetry disturbs the heart as well as the mind. It makes one wonder at one’s own actions and reactions to the environment one lives in.

She combines the influence of her discipline which is Western Classical Culture , her Sri Lankan upbringing and her sensitive self in her compositions. The thought is natural and inspired, hence it does not seem to be an outcome of artificial labour. The style and expression accompany the thought expressed.

The love she possesses for not only humans but the animal kingdom and the vegetation takes almost a religious fervour. Having experienced live, she had recorded it with beauty. Hence the small philosophies she brings forth are understandable and appealing.

A cardinal characteristic of Prof. Kamani Jayasekara’s poetry is the frankness of voice which is present throughout the collection. In essence, they are private poems which are often woven around incidents of life, however, at the same time, they are critiques, perspectives and opinions on society at large.

The matter-of-fact poems in the collection are unassuming and unshakable views of the poet woven into everyday occurrences in diverse domains of life and at times, they reflect the self and at other times, the dramatic personae, incidents and the social milieu.