‘Poets connect to the world around more deeply’

Bhavit Vatta, a class 10 student at Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, has a special skill indeed. In his poems, he has the vision to relate and portray latent human emotions alongside their parallels in nature. His recent poem on loneliness is one such wonderful piece of work. In a fun chat over a phone call, the poet of this week explains how it is impossible for him when asked to write on a particular theme. For poetry, Bhavit believes it comes only from the heart, it can never be forced. Read on edited excerpts:

Since when did you start writing poetry?

My journey into poetry began through a rather unusual incident. I asked my father to shave my beard, but along with it he also shaved my moustache. Not only was I looking very bad but I also felt very insecure. That was the first time I wrote a poem. Rather allow me to rephrase myself that was the first time a poem came to my heart. I only write poems when a special or a particular feeling comes from my heart. 

What do you find to be the best thing about writing a poem?

Poetry allows us to put down our feelings on paper thereby, making our heart feel lighter in the process. The best part however is when we show the poem to someone else and they appreciate it. It is like opening our heart to someone who understands. 

How does your school support you to write such good poems?

I wrote poems initially without telling anyone in my school. Gradually, I showed my poems to a friend who in turn advised me to submit the verse to my teacher for publication at the Apeejay Newsroom website. My teacher then edited the poem, corrected the grammatical errors and submitted it. Soon, my poem got published and I received amazing feedback from my friends. This is how everything got started.

Writing poems in the day or night?

Writing in special moments. A nice weather, a happy mood or a sad heart are the biggest muses. If you look carefully, you’ll see that most people would just appreciate good weather and then go ahead with their business. But I, as a poet, enjoy the weather and make the most of it by writing a poem on the same. So, I say that a poet interacts more deeply than others with the world around them. 

Rhyme or free verse?

The creative idea comes to my mind in free verse. I then write it down on paper and soon begin to rhyme it. So, I would go with both.

What’s your favourite poem and any poet who is close to your heart?

Robert Frost! The way he explains the complexities behind the situations and decisions of life in his iconic poem The Road Not Taken is simply superb. He explains the situation in such a nice way, with the metaphor of strolling through the woods.

Tell us about your upcoming poems?

I have many poems written in my collection. I was waiting for the response on my first poem and I’m glad that I got great feedback. So now I will steadily submit all the poems from my collection.  

How much time does it take you to write a poem? Any themes of choice?

It takes me about 5 minutes to finish a poem. But I firmly believe that a poem comes from the heart. So, I can’t think of a theme and begin to write on it. I once tried writing a poem consciously when a friend suggested a theme, but the poem just wouldn’t come to me.However, among my treasured ideas are latent human emotions and their relation with various natural elements. You can say that’s my area of interest.