Tears in a desert

Reviewed by Ranmini Gunawardena

'Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility'
- William Wordsworth

Anjalie Chandima Silva's collection of poems Veli Katharehi Kandulu epitomises Wordsworth's definition of poetry as she pens her emotional turmoil, melancholic recollections of her sojourn abroad in the Sultanate of Oman. The collection of poems I feel reflects the sentiments of many if not all who go abroad in search of greener pastures and are faced with an unmitigated sense of loneliness, feel homesick and long to be back in the salubrious climes of our beloved motherland, Sri Lanka.

Veli Katharehi Kandulu is Anjalie's third self publication of poems, which follows 'Letters from the soul' published in 2007 and her maiden publication 'Sanda Hiru Nisalai in 2001. Anjalie was at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura as a Lecturer in English.

She has a Master's degree in Sinhala which enables her to be a versatile poet in both English and Sinhala. She is currently working at Sri Lankan School Muscat, where her latest collection of poetry germinated. The 36 poems in the book are mostly in free verse on a plethora of themes such as nostalgia, melancholy, spirituality, inspirational figures, society, nature, insanity, love, friends, children and teachers. In several poems Anjalie pays a tribute to Somabandu Kodikara the principal of the school and an eminent educationist. Incidentally, the book is dedicated to him as well.

In 'The Friend I met' (Mata hamuwu Mithura) she deftly describes the loneliness she feels and personifies 'loneliness' who 'surrounds me' 'Beats me, shatters me, in this strange desert land' and then voila finds a friend in the moon. She comes up with lovely metaphor of how it brings tidings and blessings as it was the same moon that shone in Sri Lanka that peeps over the mountain and smiles at her in the strange land she is in now. I feel this is a nice way to comfort most of us who feel nostalgic and miss our motherland when we are abroad.

'Am I a Pessimist?' She asks a rhetorical question in another poem and answers herself, 'Positive thinkers are winners' she concedes 'I see the reality, one who faces reality and those who do not fear reality are winners too', she concludes. In 'The Sane' she points out 'those who discriminate the insane' (the Sane) 'should not they show love and compassion instead of laughing at them (the insane)? Are you sane? She questions boldly. 'What caused them to be insane? Won't you be humane?'

Anjalie's thought provoking poems are indeed a treat for lovers of poetry, or for that matter anyone inclined to literature or not, as there are many eye openers as she puts it succinctly 'open the blinds that cover your eyes'. Personally I would have preferred if there was a translation in English, but I guess the raw feelings she expresses are best put down in one's own mother tongue where many could identify with them and it strikes a chord in all Sri Lankans.

The writer is former Assistant Principal of Sri Lankan School Muscat and currently Vice Principal of Horizon College International, Malabe.