This book authored by Sahana Ahmed contains 95 poems of 47 poet-writers from India and also from other countries of the world. With peace as its core theme…verse after verse of these sensitive poets are touching and dripping with raw emotions. A book review by Humra Quraishi
Title of the book – Amity Peace Poems
Editor- Sahana Ahmed
Publishers – Hawakal Publishers
Pages –166
Price – Rs 400
What got me absolutely attracted to this book is the fact that peace is the core theme…I was there for its launch and have been also focusing on the verse of these sensitive poets… Touching verse, dripping with raw emotions.
And to quote the editor of this book, Sahana Ahmed, on her take-off to this collection: “My own vision for this collection was simple. I was interested in honest writing; all types of poetry from free verse to the traditional forms, were welcome. It was crucial to me that voices from different quarters were heard regardless of previous writing experience. So, we have soi-disant closet poets rubbing shoulders with those who have earned international acclaim; more than a dozen Amity contributors have at least one literary honour to their credit.” And then she goes still further and lists out an entire range that can be undertaken to make our world somewhat peaceful and tranquil. To quote her, “There are many ways to make this world a peaceful place. You can listen with an open mind. You can visit a museum. You can reduce your carbon footprint. You can learn another language…”
Of course, there are hundred ways one can be at peace, and with that spread around peace. Aren’t we all craving for peace, yet what baffles me if that in these so called developed times there seem only faint traces of peace.
Why this dark-disturbing scenario? Tension and worries seem mounting, building up in an atmosphere riddled with violence and hatred and dismal ground realities.
Where’s that much sought after peace! Where’s it gone! Who all have snatched it away from us! What do we tell our children and grandchildren about peace!
Anyway, after reading the verse of these poets, one can only hope that there’s still hope, as verse after verse is focusing on peace …that yearning …and that quest for peace!
Perhaps, the essence lies in the closing quote from The Earth Charter, on the very last page in this poetry book: “Recognise that peace in the wholeness created by right relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, and the larger whole of which all are a part.”
