Book Review by Rupa

Grateful to dear Rupa for the excellent review of my book. Sharing:

A Peacock’s Cry is a poetry collection marking the five seasons. Neena sings the reader through her poems skilfully linking each season to images and emotions closely related to it.

The kigo ‘peacock’ suggests themes traditionally linked with the monsoons, joy, abundance, and rejuvenation:

monsoon wedding
on the bride’s hand
a dancing peacock

The koel is the perennial sweet harbinger of spring:

morning prayer
a koel’s song 
in every room

My days in Kuwait came alive with the summer beauty of an Arab landscape:

desert sunset
a camel caravan returns
to silhouettes

Perhaps the poet is coming to terms with her sense of mortality in:

autumn . . .
how easy it is 
to let go

Feelings of bygone times, memories of family and parents, tinged with nostalgia resonate in this winter poem:

around my neck
papa’s old muffler
winter warmth

I’m a die-hard fan of Priti Aisola’s illustrations. She has peppered Neena’s poetry with finely sketched Gond drawings. I wish she would come out with an alphabet book for children. Teji Sethi’s cover design syncs with the title ever so gently. 

Do pick up this book and immerse yourself in the world of short-form haiku poetry. It makes for a good gift too. Thank you, Dear Neena, for signing mine! 

– Rupa Anand, haiku poet