Column: Desert Island Poetry - my choice... by Samyuktha P.C. at All poetry

Being stranded in a desert gives me time to ponder. Time to reflect upon various things. Here I get an incentive of spending

In the past seventeen years, poetry has been a source of joy in my life. I have savored poetry as an outlet, expressive mode, intense challenge for the intellect, and a spectacle of simple awe. Oldpoetry helped me discover many poets and recollect wonderful experiences with many. Connecting it to the column, I would choose the seven poems below for very particular reasons. So, continue to read to know my choice, what the poems talk about, and how they would stay with me in the desert:

What if? A doubting question. A kid lies down awaiting night's dreams to take over. However, these dreaded whatif doubts crawl in and out of his ears. Doubts of disasters and terrible mishaps. Where has all the positivity gone? Well if I look at the next morning that way, I would surely start killing myself within. But, Sheldon with his amazing humor takes us through this very familiar experience of doubt, and negative expectations, which lead us to undermine ourselves. Finally, we leave it all to fate and time to take care. An absence of effort is created. Well by reiterating this familiar thought, of whatif doubts, Sheldon makes us realise the bright side of tomorrow. As I may be walking in circles, for there I am not a skilled navigator. The desert sands may take me to perfectly unknown destinations. Whatifs will crawl and disturb my ears. Whatif with a twist and optimistic, realistic approach takes you further than you can imagine. This poem has taught me to believe, and it will always remind me of the same.

oldpoetry.com/opoem/32624-Sheldon-Allan-Silverstein-Whatif

Whatif by Sheldon Allan Silverstein

Tennyson's friend Arthur Hallam died. Tennyson went into deep depression and poetry helped it out there. Moreover, he left us masterpieces that we could revel in. As Ulysses, an ancient mariner and warrior, wants to set sail beyond the seven seas and keep seeking the arch beyond where future lies. He will follow the knowledge like the sinking stars that guide his voyages. His life is filled with the thirst for adventure and that which will bring out his noble tasks, here he means the core purpose of any life, that even though so old, he might still fulfil. Though, he does forget the homely responsibilities the kingdom and family heaped upon him, leaving the throne to Telemachus, his son. Well, that is exactly what I would be doing. Stepping among ever changing sand dunes, to the land of vast golden adventure, seeking beyond the sky, leaving homely responsibilities, and sinking in poetry's oasis.

oldpoetry.com/opoem/2094-Alfred-Lord-Tennyson-Ulysses

Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson

I was fifteen years old, when I read this poem. Toru Dutt lost her relatives at a fairly young age. Personally, I believe I have the strength to handle death, but the poignant grip of this poem caught me. She writes

oldpoetry.com/opoem/47102-Toru-Dutt-Our-Casuarina-Tree

Our Casuarina Tree by Toru Dutt