Poems

I find it interesting how different poems evoke a different kind of approach, including...

> poems which you read quickly and think "how nice"...and then a word or a phrase catches your eye (mind's eye?!) and you go "hmm....thats interesting" and then you read it again and the entire meaning moves to the next, deeper level and you realise the poem is an onion
> poems which have a unique perspective to offer depending on what stage of life or mental state you read them in. These poems say something when you are 22 and something totally different at 29. On hindsight, such poems often leave behind a debate on the credibility of the poet. Did he have something to say or was he just a convenient "facilitator"?
> poems which directly touch you, which make their words just a vehicle to make you feel something. In such poems analysis usually yields nothing unique about the usage of phrase or setting of the composition; instead the reaction needs to be completely instinctive. The suspicion on credibility is now reversed, you don't trust yourself after such poems, after all you can't really make out why the hell you have got so affected by something that doesn't actually appear that good.
> poems which make you smile (pleasant reading), while there is a funny feeling in your stomach. Your smile then thins a little as memories flood back ("my memory serves me far too well") and at that moment, you hate the poet, because he has delivered a punch with a smile. Its the Karan Johar brand of movies - no achievement in terms of cinematic excellence but make an impact as he touches the right chords.

I know 2 people who write poetry..

L's output (what an awful word) falls into the third category, but not consistently so. He needs to read more to learn to differentiate quality from mediocrity.

Vicky's is often the last category, which is probably why I have a bitter sweet relationship with him. His persona and his poems often evoke mixed reactions in me.

His most recent creation....

"Kabhi chahat ka tha haseen sama,
Kabhi mohabbat ki hava chali.
Is tan to kabhi chhua tha tumne,
Saath guzaare the suhaane pal kabhi.
Mausam badle kyun hamein ilm nahin,
Aksar sochte hain kya khata ham se hui kahin"

(Disclaimer : I also find this pontification quite silly, as if I am a connoiseur of poetry or something)