‘Poetry improves my vocabulary and imagination’

All great works of art share a common trait. They are delightfully simple. A similar delightful simplicity and a refreshing honesty can be found in the poems of Guneet Singh, a class 8 student at Apeejay School, Nerul. 

Selected as this week’s Apeejay Promising Poet, Guneet speaks about how his poetic journey began and what this art form means to him. 

Read edited excerpts:

At what age did you start writing poetry?

I started writing poems about 2 years ago. I am learning and enjoying and also improving with every poem I write. 

And what inspired you to write poems?

When I read a poem by a student at the Apeejay Newsroom website, it inspired me to start writing my own poems. So a big thanks to the Newsroom website team. 

We are so happy to read this and were amazed to read your poem: Exam day emotions. What inspired that?

So it happened once that following my Math exam, I found myself stuck between the desire to dive into PC gaming and the worry about preparing for the next exam. I opted for a brief 15-minute gaming break. As I played, a sudden thought led me to start writing a poem about exams and that’s what led to this poem. 

We simply loved the poem.  So who is your favourite poet and what is your favourite poem?

My favourite poet is Robert Frost and my favourite poem is his iconic work: Road Not Taken

 Your preference: rhyme or free verse?

Rhymes – just because they sound good to me.

Writing poems in the day or night?

I prefer writing when I am in a fresh mood (mostly day time).

How does your school help you to write such lovely poems?

Apeejay Newsroom helped me to display my talent. That’s the platform for young aspirant students like me. 

Read Here: This young poetess writes a chirpy heartfelt poem for her elder sister

How do you approach writing a poem? How much time does it take you? What are your common writing themes?

To write a poem, I start by scribbling a few rhythmic words and then I write the poem and recite them to my younger brother and then to my family. Upon receiving positive feedback and encouragement from them , I felt confident enough to share my poems with the world. 

 Finally, according to you, what is the best thing about writing poetry?

The best thing is that it improves my vocabulary and also helps me to improve my imagination.