Piled Up Pauses – A collection of poems by A V Anjali Menon is, as is evident by the title of the book, a poetry collection. There are more than fifty poems with varied lengths and a range of emotions. For the most part, though, the central theme appeared to be a heartbreaking romance. While some poems are straightforward, others have veiled feelings for a sincere reader to find. The Tragedy of my Superhero, an example of straightforward poems in the collection, is a beautiful tribute to her nanny.
Now it explained her constantly pale and wet eyes
Whenever I had pushed her for one more bedtime story
For she always longed to be someplace else,
Which was next to her little one’s cradle
– The Tragedy of my Superhero from Piled Up Pauses – A collection of poems by A V Anjali Menon
On the other hand, Makeover has a deeper meaning in the last two lines.
Blocking all my pores and breathing spaces
He says, I’ve become beautiful.
– Makeover from Piled Up Pauses – A collection of poems by A V Anjali Menon
The pen that wrote Piled Up Pauses or the fingers that tapped away on the keyboard became the faucet that poured out unresolved pain, grief, disappointments, and heartbreak of the poet. The sting of her previous relationship(s) and the agony of societal prejudices are all too evident in each word of her poems. Even though a couple of poems were lighthearted, most of the poetry are gateways to Anjali’s grieving heart. Stranger’s Bedroom – Part 2 reflects an unmistakable plight of a woman whose heart bleeds as a result of an arranged marriage bound by dowry.
Even though it’s ‘arranged’ that I fit in here right
Even though my folks have paid their ‘price’
Even though it made sense to guard my hymen all along
Why do I feel that I bled a little too much last night
– Stranger’s Bedroom – Part 2 from Piled Up Pauses – A collection of poems by A V Anjali Menon
In certain lines, A V Anjali Menon has infused her words with sarcasm, but even in those rare moments, she maintained an air of politeness. Piled Up Pauses, however, is not just about heartbreak; the poems also reflect the poet’s frustration with the current employment system and people’s attitude of putting material wealth over their creative freedom. Whether it’s the agony of forbidden love or the anger at being used by a fake lover, her words strike a chord with the readers who have loved and lost. The placement of these rich-with-emotions poems is so that they tell a gripping tale of the rise and fall of a lover. Such is the power of her words that the audience turns the pages desperately, wishing for the poet to find joy or closure, at least.
A lack of a rhyme scheme in the collection may put off the poetry-enthusiasts whose experience is enhanced by it. Having said that, a sufficient dose of emotions can force them to ignore this minor setback.A V Anjali Menon has delivered what she promised in the blurb of the book:
“This book is a collection of images and voices that are experienced, perceived, and imagined during my unplanned pauses. Some of my poems are meant for the sting, some for the breeze, and all of them for the sake of beauty.
– Piled Up Pauses – A collection of poems by A V Anjali Menon
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