By Sathya Venkatesh
The poetry book, ‘Essence Resonate” consists of short, handpicked poems from Sundar Rajan and Neeraja Sundar Rajan (the father-daughter’s) beautiful collection. The book’s title is apt as readers will find the essence of some of the poems resonating with their own life experiences. While Sundar Rajan’s poetry is more structured and shows his abundant love for nature, his daughter Neeraja’s poems express an outlook towards life from her vantage point.
Verses of Sundar Rajan such as “The musings of a bird”, “The Great banyan tree”, “Silver lining”, “Glistening air” confer a rejuvenating feel and stay true to the titles. The poem “What’s in a name” with its humorous touch and “The Musical Steps” inspired by the musical steps of the Dharasuram temple in Kumbakonam were delightful to read. Neerja’s set of poems are more inward looking and have a philosophical feel to it. Her poems titled “Silence”, “Simple Joys”, “Drop of Grace” and “Lost and Found” deeply resonated with me. I loved it for its depth and maturity, a maturity that can take over the conscience and will surely be remembered long after you have completed reading it. The referencer given at the end can help new poets know about the diverse styles of poetry. On the whole, an incredible collection of poems, Essence Resonate will make you want to revisit the poems more than once definitely!
