Written By: Malavika Madgula
“I have never started a poem yet whose
end I knew. Writing a poem is discovering.” -- Robert Frost
There
is a plethora of matter on the internet as to how to get inspired to write, how
to write well, ideas on what to write, and so on. I have no idea about the
success rate of those who tried this non-conventional path, but I am one who believes
that writing comes from within. If something about words makes your whole spine
tingle, then you’ve probably had a long love affair with words and you might
have even engaged in wordplay at some time; pun unintended!
In
my case, apart from the occasional forcefully written pieces for English
Literature class in school, writing came to me naturally.
My First Forays
It
was the year 2001. Events like WTC, the Bhuj earthquake and the assassination
of a royal family had shaken the world. Too young to understand the actual political,
economic, and social ramifications, I did the only thing I, as an 11-year old
kid thought I could do: I wrote about it in the form of a 20-line poem. It was
only after my family and friends appreciated the poetry, however childlike it
sounded, I realized that I loved writing it. So I set about composing more.
My
attempts at poetry were most random: I wrote on anything and everything. My
most ambitious attempt as a kid was when I sat about converting an old African
fable of ‘Why do mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears’ into a nearly 50-line poem;
rhyme èt al. I wrote a poem on one of the most famous queens of ancient Egypt
‘Nefertiti’ after having watched a documentary on the excavation of her
mausoleum. I even wrote one on the road behind my house! The saga of writing continued throughout my
graduation and post-graduation. In fact, throughout the 2 years at business
school, I was onstage less for presentations and competitions and more so for
reading out the poetry that I’d dished out for several occasions, including the
Director’s birthday and Teachers’ Day!
Lasting Impressions
I
got inspired by anything and everything around me. My parents are travel
freaks, and the same percolated down to me, which meant family holidays all
over the country. Those places, including the rolling dunes of Rajasthan, the snow-capped
mountains of Sikkim, the backwaters of Kerela, the beaches of Goa and the dry mountains
of Manali and Ladakh are permanently engraved in my mind. Most of the poetry
that I wrote was inspired by vivid images that would jump out at me either in photographs
or from my living memory. It was bliss.
A
particular poet whose poems have inspired me in a way I can’t explain is Robert
Frost. It was love at first sight for me when I read ‘The Road Not Taken’ and
‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’. The intense imagery created by both
poems threw up such powerful and passionate feelings that reading them make me
shudder pleasantly till date. As his quote above resonates, I feel the same way
when I’ve written poems.
I’ve
had the good fortune of landing up with the most amazing English and
Communication professors throughout my school, graduation and post-graduation. Their
sense of criticism, appreciation and a silent encouragement has been a constant
reminder as to who I am and how good I have the potential to be.
The Road Ahead
I
just quit a job I thought I loved, unless you count sitting at a desk
daydreaming about writing as a job. A bad boss, coupled with the enthusiasm to
write, backed by supportive family and friends encouraged me to quit my job,
and ironically today I’m on my way to my first submission, penning down ‘My
Writer Story’. Umpteen press releases, articles, literature paragraphs,
letters, and an epiphany later, here I am; a fledgling writer, but enthusiastic
nevertheless.
I’ve
recently just set up my blog; something that I wanted to do years ago, but
better late than never. I’m particularly proud of my tagline that currently
reads ‘Aspiring writer. Defiant Professional.’ It gave my mother a jolt and my
friends a good laugh. Someday, I’d like it to read ‘Author. Poet. Blogger’. My
best friend said that he could already envision that; all I had to do is walk
down the path. Amen to that.
***
Author Bio
Malavika Madgula is a freelance poet, blogger and writer living in Mumbai.
A certified grammar nut, she is currently in the process of setting up her blog
at http://malavika24.wordpress.com/.
Connect with her on Twitter @mmalavika24.
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