Friday, May 29, 2020


Cosmic Symphony (A Haiku Collection) by Pravat Kumar Padhy  (2019, Ciberwit, Allahabad, India) 64 pages, 5.5” x 8.5”. Four-color card covers, perfect bound. ISBN 9789389074321. $15 from cyberwit.net.

Pravat Kumar Padhy has a PhD in geology and enjoys writing haiku that celebrate scientific exploration of the cosmos. In the introduction he notes the longstanding tradition of “haiku with reference to heavenly bodies and cosmic references”. With interest in exploring a “dream-home on the moon and beyond” Padhy writes about “time and space with poetic effervescence for the universal truism, here and beyond” (20). Here is one that expresses our desire to imagine the unknown: half-moon — / the child wonders / the rest (25). I relate to this one: morning son — / the sunflower and I / turn up for breakfast (29). Here is an example of looking for life beyond our current knowledge: deep dark space / many cosmic townships / with their own light (31). Sometimes we’re just too busy to notice: supermoon — / the girls busy playing / basketball (38). And then again, sometimes there is not enough time: early moonset / so much to speak before / she left smiling (59). This is an excellent collection that demonstrates that we are connected to the heavens, heavenly bodies and the cosmos.

Randy Brooks
Frogpond. volume 43:2, 2020


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