Kabita Samagra 1 by Ketaki Kushari Dyson [Hardcover]

Ketaki Kushari Dyson's poetic journey began with a longing to transform the familiar world of her childhood, 'Meherpur', into the 'City of Clouds' (মেঘের পুর). This initial impulse reveals her profound connection to nature, especially the serene riverside of Bhairavi, which in many ways served as the cradle of her poetic expression. The poems composed between 1954 and 1962 were first published as a collection in 1977, under the title Balkal. By this time, Ketaki had already settled in England, leading to initial skepticism about whether she could continue her practice of poetry in Bengali. Renowned poet Buddhadev Bose himself had expressed doubts. However, Ketaki's poetic vision transcended boundaries, and she overcame these challenges with resilience.

Her poetry embodies a harmonious blend of intense nature-love with a deep exploration of human relationships, imagination, and knowledge. Ketaki’s worldview, rich in simplicity, enabled her to articulate profound insights with ease. As she said in one of her poems, “Look, look, everyone is running—/The Earth, the Sun, time, light,/You, I, Benjamin, the world,/A bicycle of dreams, a ball of games,/Laburnum, Forsythia, the jackal's thorn,/Even grass...”. These lines reflect her ability to capture the essence of both the mundane and the extraordinary.

Her poems are not screams but serene, profound, and introspective in tone, as in the lines: “What do you want, man,/Bracelet or sari, girl?/... ... If she comes empty-handed,/Let her come empty-handed.” Ketaki's poetry walks the eternal path, often depicted with imagery such as "a deep blue sari with a silver peacock on its border," symbolizing her connection to timeless beauty and spiritual depth.

The first volume of her Collected Poems includes five of her major works: Balkal, Sabij Prithibi (Seeded Earth), Joler Corridor Dhore (Holding the Water Corridor), Kotha Bolte Dao (Let Me Speak), and Jadukor Prem, Jadukor Mrityu (The Magician's Love, The Magician's Death). These poems, spanning multiple decades, reveal the evolution of Ketaki Kushari Dyson's poetic voice, rooted in the power of nature, the complexities of human life, and the search for meaning in the universe.