book reviews
Reviews of the best poetry books, collections and anthologies; discover poems and up-and-coming poets across all cultures, genres and themes.
The Desolate Evening
The Desolate Evening A sorrowful evening, a grieving heart, and endless solitude, Everywhere stretches the boundless emptiness of loneliness. The leaves and branches have all parted from the trees, Lonely twigs sob silently on their lips. Placing its forehead upon your footprints, Loneliness weeps for hours without pause. In what tone does this sinking heart cry, That loneliness returns time and again, echoing deeply? So familiar is solitude with my existence, That it feels restless now, even in your absence. Whatever sorrow remains in your embrace, Let solitude pour it into the depths of my blood. Our bond was never tied to the joys of bustling crowds, Nor do we have any power over your presence, solitude. Your pride in your desolation may be justified, But spend a few days with me as well, solitude. A ruined heart, memories of you, and the night’s emptiness— All shrouded in the smoke surrounding the grave of solitude.
By Muhammad Waseem 2 years ago in Poets
What Became Of You ?
What became of you, with your wisdom of life? Why are you silent now? Tell me, what became of you? You parted ways, chasing new destinations, I lost my path after losing you; what became of you? I knew that failure was my destined end, But you had hopes of triumph—what became of you? I joined the race, not to win, but to hear someone say, "What became of you?" Did they ask you too? The battle I fought against fate was yours as well, I couldn’t succeed; what became of you? Seeing you, I thought you were happy and free, But your words revealed a different story—what became of you? I was punished for being different from the rest, You too were unique—tell me, what became of you?
By Muhammad Waseem 2 years ago in Poets
Create a portrait where I smile while I weep
A Portrait of Tears and Smiles Create a portrait where I smile while I weep, Let sorrow be expressed, but not as a spectacle to keep. No thread of dreams should tangle in these eyes, No clear recognition, no face in disguise. Create a portrait where I smile while I weep, Let sorrow be shared, but no performance to reap. If I am worthy, verify it with someone true, Don’t comfort me if my solace feels untrue. However strong your heart, leave it outside your chest, So when it breaks, no ruins stay suppressed. Let anyone live in my eyes on this one condition: No dream should pave the way towards sleep's submission. Whatever bond we share, let it belong to just you and me, Even my bond with you shouldn't trap you in loyalty.
By Muhammad Waseem 2 years ago in Poets
You’ll never return, I had to say
You’ll never return, I had to say, You went far away, as I searched each day. For centuries, in valleys, I waited for you, You came for a moment, smiled, then I searched anew. Through these valleys, with snowflakes that fell, Sparks rained all around, while I searched as well. Nights rolled down into the swamp's deep layers, Days sank into the mire, as I searched in despair. The paths were clouded, but I waited in vain, Centuries scorched the earth, while I searched through the pain. You’ll never return, I had to say, You went far away, as I searched each day.
By Muhammad Waseem 2 years ago in Poets
How can I tell you of my pain?
How can I tell you of my pain? It’s not a story, not so plain. Not a word I can simply write, Not a tale to recite tonight. If wounds they were, I’d lend your care, But scars like these can’t be laid bare. Not a mirror to reflect my plight, For you to see and feel my fight. You ask me, but how can I explain? It’s no secret hidden in a chain. Grief spills over, its burden vast, Like a veil that falls when winds rush past. This weight I carry—how can I share? The aching steps, the heavy air. The load of life upon my frame, Yet onward I walk, all the same. The path ahead, a silent friend, No voice to halt, no time to mend. A search for words to match my grief, But metaphors too fail belief. My heart is captive, trapped by time, Each breath unravels life’s cruel rhyme. Change surrounds, yet chains endure, The thread of pain remains unsure. You think life is fragrant and fair, But you’ve not tasted despair’s despair. You’ve not walked the fields of madness deep, Where centuries of sorrow meet. An unseen melody hums through air, A silent wail, beyond compare. It spreads like dust, a suffocating haze, Binding souls in unending days. Time is ruthless, we all can see, Dancing naked in its decree. Beneath the stars, a burning flame, The whispers of freedom call my name. Yet, staying blind does no one good, Step forth and learn, as you should. See the colours of today’s despair, And how tomorrow’s hopes disappear. People burn in their dreams unmet, With shadows of hunger and unmet debt. In a world of peace that smells of war, People break like waves on a distant shore. Life is no movie for me to show, You’ve asked, but how can I let you know? Nowhere safe, not even trust, Under the weight of loss and dust. The ground we tread, an unseen mine, The night’s decree and day’s decline. Holding torches, we move ahead, While hope flickers, and faith has fled. We dream, though walking blind we stay, Hoping the darkness will fade away. The sun will rise, the ice will melt, And light will conquer the pain we’ve felt. But how can I show you this bloody view, Where doves take flight, their path askew? Come closer now, and I’ll let you see, The scars of time etched deep in me. This world, a shop of tears displayed, Where cries of tomorrow’s hopes have strayed. Lovers tread with dust on their feet, Awaiting time’s cruel, final deceit. How can I tell you, what words can do? Pain isn’t written, it must pass through. Whether it’s mine or yours to bear, A heart feels it—if it truly cares. Once desire rips love’s fragile seam, It can’t be stitched like a broken dream. The sky may bow to kiss the earth, But some stars never align from birth.
By Muhammad Waseem 2 years ago in Poets
The Love
The Love One day, I met a lover on the roadside, And then a long conversation began, side by side. I asked him, "Why is your attire pale green? Why do your desolate eyes hold a watery sheen?" "Why are your hair so messy, untamed? Why is your collar torn, your dignity maimed?" "Why does your face hold the burden of centuries, my friend? Why does your mood seem so twisted, so bent?" "Why do the wrinkles in your robe seem so sad? Why do your eyes carry a river’s madness, so bad?" "Your feet are wounded, they refuse to stay still, It seems even the ground beneath can't match your will." "Your eyes are heavy, full of unshed tears, Ready to overflow, it seems, after holding for years." "Your lips appear parched, waiting in deep thirst, Their silence speaks of a longing unrehearsed." My questions kept pouring, one after another, It seemed like he wouldn’t respond, just let me bother. He listened silently for a long, long time, Sometimes gazing at me, sometimes at his own grime. Then suddenly he laughed, and laughed so loud, It scared me, his laughter, so wild and proud. He pulled me close and made me sit by his side, And with great detail, began to teach me of love, far and wide. “You marvel at my dishevelled hair and my green cloak, At my wounded feet, at the ashes in which I soak." "Let me tell you what truly afflicts me, What compels me to live like this, in this agony." "Perhaps you've heard of love, its endless name, But how it seizes you, perhaps you've not claimed." "Love is existence, love is pride, Love is intoxication, where sorrows reside." "Love is madness, wisdom, and art, Love is a lament, a longing, and a heart’s chart." "Love is a village, a jungle, and a prison, Love is a religion, belief, and the ultimate vision." "Love is a school, a teacher, a way, It’s Joseph, Jesus, and Jacob's stay." "Love is Jonah, Mansur, and Tabriz's fire, It's both a gentle smile and a stormy desire." "Love is Hamza, Ali, and Bilal’s devotion, It’s in the streets of Mecca and Taif’s commotion." "Love is Asghar, Akbar, and Hassan’s light, It’s Zainab’s courage and Abbas's might." "Love is Adam, Idris, and Abraham’s call, Moses too stood under its thrall." "Love is the cry of unity, the core of Islam, It’s the beginning, the journey, and the ultimate calm." "Love judges and delivers its justice fair, It breaks lovers, then exalts them rare." "It pushes Sassi to her eternal sleep, And yet it’s fearless, climbing mountains steep." "It has fought raging waves and dared to see, It has stepped into fire with bravery." "It drank poison with a laughing face, And bore every torment with grace." "The beauty of Layla bears love's trace, While Farhad and Majnun offer its case." "The youth of Joseph holds love’s charm, Its story predates mankind's swarm." "Love lifts stones hurled by the world, And holds them close, as treasures unfurled." "Love loses its head, arms, and neck, But never falters in devotion's trek." "Don’t judge the wrinkles of my robe, my friend, Or the madness in my eyes you cannot comprehend." "My blistered feet and sealed lips belong, To love's legacy of trials lifelong." "Love’s definition cannot be confined, Nor can the essence of a lover’s mind." "Do not mistake the admirer for a true lover, The former is a sinner; the latter, a seeker." "Remember these lessons, these stories, my dear, For love’s journey is one of trials severe." "And if you wish to tread love's endless field, Know pain and hardship are its seal." I asked, "Will I ever understand this mystery of love?" He said, "Your name’s written in its fate above." "In love's circle, your role is clear, The path of love is yours to steer." _____________________________ This poem is a profound exploration of love—its essence, struggles, and ultimate transcendence. It portrays love as both a torment and a teacher, an all-encompassing force that shapes the soul and reshapes life.
By Muhammad Waseem 2 years ago in Poets
If sculpting is your art, O craftsman, Shape my face, my body, and my soul with your hand.
If sculpting is your art, O craftsman, Shape my face, my body, and my soul with your hand. Turn water into glass for me, if you can, Or cleanse this mirror of its rust and sand. To weave my veil, mix the hues of a rainbow, And carve colours from flowers and butterflies aglow. You claim your hands hold many crowned heads, Then shape a melody from wood, let music be spread. On a blank page, you’ve drawn trees and bloom, If you write poetry, give it taste and room. As you’ve chiselled the sun with precision and care, Take your tools and create brilliance to share. I will build a world vast and free, Not confined by a grave, a cage, or misery. It’s my craft to make sweetness and honey abound, But you, craft the sting, and let its pain resound. You, a master of mud’s enchantments divine, Why stunned by the beauty of a woman so fine?
By Muhammad Waseem 2 years ago in Poets
Timeless Wisdom: 37 Profound Proverbs from Around the World
Proverbs are timeless treasures of wisdom, passed down through generations and cultures. In this article, we’ve curated 37 of the most thought-provoking and inspiring proverbs from around the world. Each saying offers a unique perspective on life, love, success, and human nature—revealing truths that transcend borders and time. Dive in to explore these gems of wisdom that can transform the way you see the world! Proverbs are more than just words; they are reflections of human experiences and collective wisdom shaped by diverse cultures. These 37 proverbs remind us of life’s universal truths, inspiring us to think, act, and live better. No matter where we come from, these sayings bridge the gap between nations and generations, offering timeless lessons for navigating the complexities of life. Let these words of wisdom guide you, for within them lies the power to transform perspectives and spark meaningful change. 1. "He who shakes his neighbour’s house, his own house will collapse." (Swiss proverb) 2. "If a man eats to his fill, he will not appreciate the taste of bread." (Scottish proverb) 3. "If you don’t know how to smile, don’t open a shop." (Chinese proverb) 4. "Good looks are the strongest recommendation." (English proverb) 5. "Doing good to the ungrateful is like pouring perfume into the sea." (Polish proverb) 6. "If you want to see the progress of a nation, look at its women." (French proverb) 7. "We often see things differently from their reality because we settle for reading only the title." (American proverb) 8. "Other people’s mistakes are always more evident than our own." (Russian proverb) 9. "Contentment is half of your happiness." (Italian proverb) 10. "Every man is the maker of his own destiny." (English proverb) 11. "Arm your mind with knowledge; it is better than adorning your body with jewels." (Chinese proverb) 12. "Self-conceit is a product of ignorance." (Spanish proverb) 13. "Love that depends on gifts is always hungry." (English proverb) 14. "Beware of the woman who speaks of her virtue and the man who boasts of his honesty." (French proverb) 15. "Give love to your wife and share your secrets with your mother." (Irish proverb) 16. "Treat your child like a prince for the first five years, a slave for the next ten, and then as a friend." (Indian proverb) 17. "Being human is easy, but becoming a man is difficult." (Russian proverb) 18. "My family taught me how to speak, and people taught me how to remain silent." (Czechoslovak proverb) 19. "He who sees people through the lens of knowledge hates them; he who sees them through the lens of reality forgives them." (Italian proverb) 20. "Anger is a fierce wind that extinguishes the lamp of reason." (American proverb) 21. "Those who give should not talk about their giving, while those who receive should always mention it." (Portuguese proverb) 22. "A big tree gives more shade but bears fewer fruits." (Italian proverb) 23. "Put your worries into a torn pocket." (Chinese proverb) 24. "Overeating is more harmful than hunger." (German proverb) 25. "Sow every day, eat every day." (Egyptian proverb) 26. "O man, do not forget death, for it will not forget you." (Turkish proverb) 27. "The pleasure of revenge lasts a moment, but the peace of forgiveness lasts forever." (Spanish proverb) 28. "Love and fragrance cannot be hidden." (Chinese proverb) 29. "He whose pocket is empty should sweeten his tongue." (Malaysian proverb) 30. "Even small drops of water can form a river." (Japanese proverb) 31. "God provides for birds, but they must fly to get it." (Dutch proverb) 32. "Love lasts as long as the money does." (French proverb) 33. "He who lends to a friend loses both." (French proverb) 34. "He who marries a beautiful woman needs more than two eyes." (English proverb) 35. "He who has a straw on his back is always afraid of fire." (French proverb) 36. "He who is determined to reach the destination considers every obstacle trivial." (French proverb) 37. "He who thinks of himself as a sheep will be devoured by wolves." (French proverb) Which proverb did you like?
By Muhammad Waseem 2 years ago in Poets
On the socioeconomics of being humane
The socioeconomics of humanness lies in the beauty of balancing the aspects of togetherness and isolation. In a world where life coincides with the duality of forces, oscillating between the forces of light and dark, beauty and hate, love and hatred, birth and death, humans are the most endearing and detrimental beings ever to exist. The prowess of intellect and communication, with the stellar mind that created the strides of evolution and lapses of civilization, is undeniably the most striking aspect of what makes humans the most resilient beings of them all.
By Hridya Sharma2 years ago in Poets
