‘It feels great when people tell me they love my poems’

An artist begins to create magic when they get their zone right. But what is a zone and how does one get it right? The answer is simple, it is identifying the rhythm inside oneself and finding the same rhythm flowing in different ways in the life around us. 

Saurabh Mishra from Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park seems to have tapped into this magic effortlessly. His poems are based on the situations surrounding his student universe and he beautifully brings out the tender emotions and thoughts in this mindscape. 

Selected as this week’s Promising Poet, owing to his commitment to poetry and experimenting across forms, Saurabh explains his poetic philosophy and expresses how his school supports his aspirations. 

Saurabh, when did poetry come into your life?
I started to write poetry at the age of 12-13. So, you can say it is at the start of my adolescence, that I answered to the poetic side of mine and in turn self-confidence and expression answered back to me. 

What inspired you to write poems?
When I got to know about the great platform named Apeejay Newsroom, it brought alive the poetic confidence in me. I thought that it would be a great chance to exhibit my creativity, and in the process I would keep improving in my way of writing.

We found your poem Cushy very interesting. What is the idea behind?
Cushy is a poem, which is dedicated to all my friends and especially the ones who helped me in the difficult phases of my life, whether it would be studies, sports or anything. Life isn’t complete without friends. My good friends always guide me in what I should do or I should not. Indeed, school friends are your best companions in life. 

 Rhyme or free verse, which do you fancy more?
 I would go for free verse, because sometimes it’s difficult to write in rhyme, but I am open to writing in both. It depends on the poem to be fair. 

And when do you pen down your poems?
I usually write my poems at night, because by then I’m done with my studies and I can make the most of my free time constructively. Besides, at night, there is no noise, so I can write peacefully and concentrate better.

How does Apeejay Panchsheel Park support you as a poet?
Many teachers and students appreciate me for my poems and often compliment me about a particular line of my poem which they liked. One truly feels so ha[ppy and fulfilled in those moments. 

Saurabh please elaborate on how you approach writing a poem? What are your common writing themes and ideas?
I usually take topics surrounding my life, for example if I’m feeling curious haunted stories, I then write haunted poems. Also, I love music, so whenever I write a poem, I would definitely have my headphones on. It usually takes me 15-20 mins or more to complete a poem, sometimes even less if I get my flow right in the first go. 

Finally, what’s the best thing about writing poetry for you?
My art is very relatable to the life around me, hence people often compliment me and tell me that they just love reading my poems and wait excitedly to know about my upcoming poems.