‘Through poetry I can fly’

Poets are known to be deep thinkers. They understand certain issues and help others see them too. The same can be said of Aarish, a class VII student at Apeejay School, Tanda Road, Jalandhar.

Just a teenager, he is 11 years old, he has already realised that greed makes you walk a path that can ve fraught with dangers and risks. Most of the times, you don’t even need that thing or cast it away once the shine has faded.

Selected as this week’s Poet of the Week, Aarish speaks about his love for William Wordsworth and explains how a simple story in his literature textbook, made him reflect and write a poem on ‘Greed’.

Excerpts from the interview.

At what age did you start writing poetry?

I picked up the pen recently; it started when I was 10.

What inspired you to pick up the pen?

My teachers and my mother were the main reason behind this. They always inspired me to write and express myself through writing. The joy and fun I get and find in writing poems is impossible to describe.

Tell us the idea behind your poem: Greed.

In my English literature book there’s a story titled: How much land does a man need. I liked the story a lot and it sparked my imagination as well. In a nutshell, the story is about a man who runs to acquire as much land as he can but in the end he loses his life in this process and all he gets in the end is a six feet burial ground. I found the story very thoughtful as it highlights the irony of life. We all must understand that greed is useless. It makes a person lose everything.

Who is your favorite poet?

William Wordsworth is the poet I admire the most. Whenever I read his works, I feel transported to another land. My favourite poem is Daffodils.

The eternal poet’s question: Rhyme or free verse?

I prefer rhymes. When I write a poem in rhyme, the task becomes much more pleasurable and soothing to the ears. And when a deep thought is expressed through a simple rhyme, its power increases manifold.

When do you like to write poems?

Whenever thoughts come to my mind I just pen them down. I do not go by any particular writing time.

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

My teachers have always encouraged me to write and give words to my thoughts. At the school, all students are always motivated to participate in the extra-curricular activities and same is the case with me. It has played a huge role in boosting my confidence.

How do you approach writing a poem?

It begind with gathering my thoughts and penning them down. Then I begin to write the poem. I don’t believe in having a set duration, so there are no time constraints when it comes to finishing the poem. Instead, it depends on the theme of the poem and my understanding of it.

The best thing about writing poetry for you.

It gives words to my emotions and wings to our imagination.