Title: Petals & Embers
Author: Teertha Anil
Publisher: Leadstart publishing
Genre: Poetry
First Publication: 2021
Language: English
Book Summary: Petals & Embers by Teertha Anil
Petals,
full of promise of life
may yet grow, from the
Embers
of a dying fire.
There is both desolation and delight, melancholy and might, in the author’s life, in people, in things of substance. Petals and Embers captures the anger, anxiety, love and every other emotion and colour in the spectrum of life.
Ranging from topics of violence against women and mental health to deeply personal emotions, this collection of poems covers it all. Experience both the petals of merriment and an ember-like melancholy between these pages. Some lines can be more relatable than others, but there is something for everyone.
Book Review: Petals & Embers by Teertha Anil
Sometimes you need beautiful, empathizing words to help you process your mood when life goes a bit haywire. Having grown up in a world of analytical thinking, Petals & Embers pierced my analytical soul and burrowed deep into my ultra-sensitive spirit. This book slayed all my emotions and love for vulnerable writing. Although I am not expert about poetry, I do know quite a bit about feelings, and Teertha Anil’s gorgeous collection of poems brought those feelings tumbling out.
In her writings, she explores topics such as love, loss, trauma, mental health, violence against women, and femininity – all subjects that I happen to appreciate. Her prose is graceful yet thorough as she explores the feelings of brokenness, love, and being stronger alone. Despite its simplicity, in many ways, this collection explores some of the darkest and incredibly hopeful matters of human heart.
There are times when you feel something but don’t know how to express it. You may not know how to explain your thoughts to others because you can’t find the right words or the closest metaphor. Teertha Anil nails such emotions and views with beautiful imagery. Sometimes, you may be confused about your own feelings and books can help you process them and understand yourself. That is what this poetry collection will do. Part of it was relatable. Part of it was moving. All of it was beautiful.
This collection of poems is so deeply honest. It says the words so many of us thought of, but never spoke. You can feel every single drop of feeling that ever ran through the veins and pens of the poet. Yet, not just a poet, but a human being. It is ultimately a book about hardships and empowerment and in my humble opinion, although obviously directed towards women, the message of self loving can apply to anyone, woman or man.
Through Petals & Embers, Teertha Anil makes you grateful for your love of reading because it makes you understand how powerful words can be. It fills you with peace, acceptance and joy. Each poem begins with a simple drawing. These illustrations also tell a story and we feel the emotions from the them before we even read the words. They truly make poems come to life and paint a vivid picture and emotion inside you.
I really love how easy it was for me to read this one yet going through various shades of emotions with each passing page! I could really connect with the writer and I was able to understand what the lines meant to convey.
It’s difficult to review this collection because every poem is extremely personal, tender and exquisite in its own way. As is typical with any art form, I found myself connecting with some of Teertha Anil’s poems more than others but they were all very good. Teertha Anil really touched deep emotions with this incredibly work of art. Her words of truth and honesty are so powerful and so full of feelings. Here is one poem taken from Petals & Embers that I can’t stop thinking about:
The Vulnerability of Our Universe:
Fighting a battle inside out,
Internal bleeding, not just collateral damage.
The wide expanse which we carry within us;
Hanging by the veins of an uncut hand.Our smile just a forged reflection of theirs,
Our lives reliant on a fine balance
of fate or a slight swerving in that unending universe
That guides us from the tips to our toes,
Our lips and our woes.The entire universe conspires to help them.
Who will help us?
When our universe is collapsing in on itself.
The poems are direct, simple, easy to grasp and full of passion. There are underlying layers and raw thoughts and emotions beneath those words to savour it, reread it. If you enjoy marinating in your emotions or ponder topics like female empowerment, mental health, getting over heartbreak, and what love really means, I recommend that you check out Petals & Embers by Teertha Anil.
