Hey…Spilt milk is spilt, nothing else (Poems)

by Anita Nahal

2018124 pages

About the book

OPINIONS "Anita Nahal's poems and flash fictions are valuable contributions to the literature on immigration and diaspora writings. Her books can easily be part of sociology, anthropology, literary and inter-disciplinary classes, as Nahal's work pushes us to ponder upon issues that emerge from moving places that we might not even think about. It's the universal, ethnographical appeal in her work that will make Anita a major writer of our times." - Dr. Gerrit B.M. Dielissen, Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Netherlands "Anita's poems and flash fiction are very relevant literary contributions as she immerses herself in her characters taking us most intriguingly with them in the journey of soulful, everyday life discovery! Her flash fictions about aging particularly stood out for me as it's not easy to write first person narratives of an ageing person's reminiscences even more if there may or may not be some autobiographical elements. Nahal's poems and flash narratives take you into the world of diasporic women as they cross continents to find their place in the sun. The development of the characters throws light on Nahal's incisive view of human existence." - Dr. Roopali Sircar Gaur, Former Professor of English, Sri Vcnkatcswara College, University of Delhi "Anita Nahal's poems and very short stories are like whispers of my heart! The details are in some case left to the imagination of the reader, and in some cases, graphic and so vivid., .as if I am there! Anita's work reminds me of her father, and my Professor Chaman Nahal, the novelist par excellence." - Sana Narain Sharma, Former Associate Professor of English, University of Delhi "Writing is hard work and not every writer can bring their characters to life understanding the type of readership of a publication like ours, but I am deeply impressed by Anita Nahal's ability to take any reader with her in to her fictions and poems in such a way, tenderly weaving the emotions, people, and stories at short notice. We have been publishing Anita Nahal's work for some time now, and her fictions and poems are always a visual treat to our readers. Anita is a truly remarkable writer and she will go far in her writings!" - Vijay Anand, Managing Editor, Confluence, UK "Anita Nahal is a prolific poet and fictionist, who has achieved excellence in poetry and flash fiction, the latter being the latest genre trending in fiction writing today. I have read with admiration several of her poems and flash fiction pieces. She has creativity in her genes. Her father, Chaman Nahal, was a well-known novelist. I am sure, her pen will become more prolific, making the literary scene richer and life beautiful." - Subhash Chandra, Critic and Author "Anita's work is deep and endearing, and she has a sense of imagination that goes beyond traditional contemporary poetic bounds. Her writing inspires in all of us a sense of wonder, inspiration and nostalgia for home that we can rarely attain by other forms of content attempting to represent the Indian subcontinent. I love reading her poems and her flash fiction, which make me feel that I am part of the experiences, thoughts and feelings. I am honored to be able to read her works and share in their joy." - Atreyee Dasgupta, ABR Relocation Specialist, New Jersey, USA

Folks say Anita Nahal’s poems reflect a,“…sense of imagination that goes beyond traditional and contemporary poetic bounds.” That they have “…lyrical quality and soothe the soul,” and are like “whispers to the heart.”
This is Anita Nahal’s second book of poems. The first, Initiations, was published in 1988. In between life took over, and while Nahal kept the creative vigil going, it is only now that she felt comfortable in bringing all the poems she had been writing for the past twenty years, together in her second book.
Most creative work is a product of the amalgam of the personal and the public. So, informs the poetry of Anita Nahal. Her poems cover a vast range of human emotions from love to fear; giving and receiving; loving and losing; from repenting to surviving and then thriving. Anita’s poems are lyrical and mysterious at times, and very pragmatic at other. Her poems cover a gamut of life realities: partners, marriage, other relationships; immigration, refugee crises, unemployment, alcoholism, and homelessness; feminism, humanism, environment and poverty; teenage pregnancy and aging. Who said life is easy or monolithic? It’s multidimensional and complicated, just as humanity.
Nahal’s poems are written in myriad forms; free verse, prose-poetry, short, very short, long ones and haiku, thereby confirming the multi-dimensionality of her writings, both in content and style. Some poems have each first letter capitalized and some lower case; allowing Anita to take us into the journey of expressing life with emphasis at times, on this and that; and less or more emphasis at other times on that and this. Nahal’s poems speak to a daughter, sister, a single mother, a son, a father, partners, and other relationships. And while there is a strong element of the diaspora in her writings, Nahal’s work has a universal appeal.
Traveling the world with her parents since an early age of nine, Anita was deeply influenced by injustice in everyday life, injustice against all, earning her the title of “mother of all humanity,” by her father. This was the same time she was inspired to write poems. Anita grew up and later travelled on her own and then, even later, with her young son, Vikrant. They both lived within and at the periphery of diverse experiences in various countries, ultimately choosing to live in the United States. Her journey as a mother has been her most blessed experience, one that kept her going against all odds. All the journeys Anita has taken, and is taking, and her indomitable belief in hope, magic and revival has earned her such names as the Renaissance woman, Pollyanna or the Phoenix. The same also became the inspiration for the title of this deep, soulful, ethereal, yet starkly realistic collection of poems. You may find your emotions and thoughts travelling in some of these gems! Many of the poems have pencil line drawings, that will endear you in a visual delight as well.
Crossing spaces and time, Anita’s poems leave you thirsting for more.