Beyond Labels : Poetry and Followers

Dear Reader

Does identifying with poetry, soaking in its flavours, feeling its rhythm on your skin, qualify you as a poet? Recently, I changed my social media bio from ‘poet’ to ‘interested in poetry’. The more I read poetry and dive into its dew-ness, the more I am aware of how far I need to walk to comprehend its complexities. But there’s another reason I have to steer clear of adding labels to my writing. While writing empowers me, fixing it with identities brings along a baggage that mars the very reason I started off on this journey. I’d rather keep it about writing and not about myself.

In other news, while on the dentist’s chair for the third time in the last few days, I realised the doctor is a loyal follower of a certain news channel that plays on mute, (probably) all through the day. My mother, too, follows a spiritual leader and nowadays that she’s here to stay with me, I can see her unflinching devotion from close quarters. This is also the case with my best friend, who follows a different spiritual cult. Our monthly calls are often directed at the teachings she faithfully passes on to me. For info, I am not drawn to people worship- includes film personalities, authors, creators, sports persons. For the record, I do not follow famous people on social media. Their work is available without the need to be their follower and I’d rather engage with that.

Followers, as I understand, are the fabrics that make leaders. Last month, I rejoined Facebook after nearly three years to realise that I’m no longer ‘friends’ with two of my Facebook and real-life friends. Instead, I’m now their follower! As are the other thousands of ‘friends’ they once had. I spent some time researching the settings to figure out how to turn friends into followers but that’s not important. For now, what amuses me is the desire for this metamorphosis. Among the synonyms of ‘follower’, devotee comes up as one of the options. I almost visualise myself sitting with folded hands in the Facebook Hall, listening (reading) with utmost devotion to the sermons of my friends.  

But herein lies the irony. Instagram and X do not give the option of being friends. Neither does WordPress. And well (gulps) I also have a few hundred followers on these platforms! The only explanation that makes sense to me right now and that I can take solace in, is to understand that follower count does not imply meaningful content or conversation. Or, at least, a conversation that appeals to me. Or even to them. As long as followers don’t turn into devotees and leaders do not begin to act like God, it’s all okay. For ‘followers’ of Nietzsche, as long as leaders don’t start taking their role too seriously, it’s fine.

Here is something I found floating in the online space and what I think pretty well sums up my thoughts today. (Source unknown).

And because I too follow accounts for beautiful poetry, here’s one I wrote after being inspired by ‘Reminders’ by ‘Jeanne Lohmann’ and shared by Poetry Town. It comes with a lovely message from George Bilgere, who puts together some fine poems for readers. He says and I paraphrase, we don’t know happiness when we’ve got it. It exists only as a memory. The trick, therefore, is to pay attention.

Memories

The old vespa rattles on a muddy

Pune pothole, you drive in with

blue balloons, making up our morning

quarrel with chocolate cake fresh out    

the Monginis oven, birthday cap

strapped to your face.

Let’s go again to the sparse chattels-

four chairs, a bed for two, deckchair

on a livid lawn dying for care. We can

lie on its thirsty roots, our bones

drinking out of that old life.

***

If you’re waiting for news about my children’s chapter book, I am now on to adding some fun quotient to my writing. Working around sentences and thinking them upside down feels awesome. The progress is slow, but I still hope to finish by February end.

I’ve also subscribed to Cycle, which is a magazine for children by the Ektara Trust and I’m waiting for my copies that I look forward to sharing with readers in a new form. So, stay tuned and until we meet again, take care.