A Writers Workshop Redbird Book

s h a d o w s   d o n ' t   l i v e   i n   w a l l s

poems by Samartha Vashishtha

ISBN 81-8127-162-2 (Hardback) | ISBN 81-8157-163-0 (Flexiback)

Ordering Information | Homepage | Two Poems from the Anthology

Here is a young poet with a deeprooted restlessness and concern. With a flowing language dangling like twigs of grass. - Liladhar Mandloi in Vartaman Sahitya

Still the one thing that struck me in his early poems continues to amuse. The way he approaches everything abstract that he perceives through senses. Months have a feel of their own - a fragrance that is well defined in the poem; weapons have flashes and tablemanners that they spoil; and mobile-phone towers disturb the inherent symmetry of the sky. It is now that he sees his house as bare brick and mortar; fails to give the sky a name; and is able to address his ancestors without undue respect or inhibitions. - Swadesh Deepak in his preface to the book

These are remarkable poems of adolescence, memories and violence; many of which have previously appeared in some leading Indian magazines like Chandrabhaga, Indian Literature, Poetry Chain, The Journal of the Poetry Society (India), etc. Remarkable for the novelty of the young poet's forms. Remarkable for his honest, fearless voice.

SamarthaVashishtha was born at Nabha (Punjab) on June 10, 1983. He did his schooling from Simla and Ambala, and is presently a third year Electronics and Communication Engineering student. Samartha published a first book of poems in English, Anhadnad, in the year 2000. He won the Chosen Poet II Award in The Poetry Society (India) - Poetry Chain Annual Poetry Prizes 2003.

Webpage copyright Samartha Vashishtha, 2006.