How the myriad narratives of life stir a poet, compelling him to articulate them with urgency! These poems also encapsulate the internal conflict between the conscious and the subconscious mind. Penned at various moments sometimes during moments of leisure, at dawn, at dusk, or even during air travel these verses serve as a testament to the poet’s profound sensitivity. The poem ‘Pagdandi’ (The Footpath), as it navigates the intricate equations of relationships oscillating between affection and taboo, reaches a destination that is accessible only through lived experience. Embedded within this poem is the entire spectrum of inner turmoil that characterizes the human psyche—a turbulence that seems to have been distilled and absorbed into the verse through the sheer power of subtle suggestion. Consider the poem: “A curious little footpath, winding between affection and taboo, leads to that very door upon which your name is inscribed. When the door swings open, I find only myself standing on both sides of the threshold.” Pagdandi
Author – Alok Kumar
