Posted on by Sonia Dogra

Exploring Prose Poetry and Surrealism

Dear Readers,

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I’d like to start by sharing with you my poem ‘The Morning We Quarrelled’ that appeared in Issue 11 of Porch LitMag earlier this month. And now, on to this week’s newsletter.

We are nearly into the third month of the ‘new’ year. Feels surreal, right? No? Then strange, maybe? Even though I prefer to find meaning and reason behind everything, I cannot disagree that my hands are tied because I am human. That there is only a limit up to which the impossible is possible for me. And so, no matter how much I want it to slow down, time gallops past me.

The good thing is I haven’t had a more productive ‘writing beginning’ to another year as far as I can think. I cannot say I owe it to the muse being by my side or time in plenty (on the contrary, I’ve been very hard-pressed for writing time these past months). But if there’s anything that’s been by my side, it is a writing discipline. It was a new year resolution to be more focused and have small, achievable goals. So far, it looks fine.

Having said that, I am joining Namratha Varadharajan for the fifth consecutive week as she reaches the middle of her Poetic Adventure. This week she literally stumped me as she delved into Prose Poetry, with special focus on surrealism/absurdism. I am totally inexperienced with both forms of writing. To be honest, it is difficult for me to understand how to make my prose border on poetry as well as the nuances of surrealism. After going through the poems shared by Namratha on her Substack page (read here) and the attempts of other fellow poets , I thought I could do it. But when I sat down to write, I drew a blank. Then I tried to get around to some surrealistic art, and once again, I just kept meandering. Finally, while reading about surrealistic poetry, I came across the idea of running through a bizarre dream, exploring the subconscious. That is the genesis of this poem. (Reader discretion: Theme: death and separation).

I am not sure my attempt fits both categories mentioned in this week’s adventure, but here it is.

COMMUNICATION

This poem has been removed.

Thank you for reading!

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16 Replies to “Exploring Prose Poetry and Surrealism”

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  4. I really like the concept of prose poetry. Kudos to you for your writing discipline. I think in 2025 most of us want to adopt slow living. Let me share that 2025 has also been so far a good beginning as far as my writing is concerned.

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  7. This reminded me of an old old movie titled ‘A bridge too far’. The idea of the disappearing bridges is vivid and stark and will stay in my mind for a long time. Incorporating the ‘smell of metal’ and ‘head grows lilies’ added inches to the piece. And the ending is brilliant ‘he laughs’

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    1. Thank you, Namratha. You made me explore territories I wouldn’t dare to. Your vote of confidence means much. I don’t know if you remember but once you’d shared a rattle ekphrastic call with me. It had the image of flowers growing out of a woman’s head. Perhaps, I borrowed from it.

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    1. Thank you, Manisha. I think I was majorly focused on the surreal. Didn’t think much of bringing two different relations together, but now that you point it out, I think I’ll try to explore it more.

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