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    Reflections
    Reflections
    Reflections
    Ebook128 pages33 minutes

    Reflections

    By Harshi Syal Gill

    ()

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    About this ebook

    The poems in this collection have been written over a span of several years, and reflect the poets responses to experiences and observations of a deep and personal nature; experiences which are sometimes real, sometimes imaginary.

    They not only explore the intensity of human emotions triggered by spontaneous moments of realization, they also trace the poets journey through different realms of exploration of the Self as her growth continues in different continents. The thoughts evoked give voice to the emotions of many who can relate to similar stirrings of the heart.

    Several of these poems were aired, in the early years, over the Voice of Kenya. Kitheka Mutui, producer of a program Books and Bookmen, talked about the echoing void expressed in much of the poetry, which demands of us a concerted re-discovery of ourselves and our purpose in life.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateAug 10, 2012
    ISBN9781477253557
    Reflections
    Author

    Harshi Syal Gill

    HARSHI SYAL GILL HARSHI SYAL GILL was born and educated in Nairobi, Kenya, after which she has lived and worked in Canada, England and, for the last thirty years, in the U.S. Following her graduate and post-graduate studies in literature, she was a regular guest as a literary critic for the Voice of Kenya radio station and has since worked in multiple professions including teaching, technical writing, systems analyses and medical administration. Her creative efforts have found expression in various genres. In addition to contributions to several anthologies and literary magazines, she has published a poetry collection, “Reflections,” and has co-written several Indian serial scripts in L.A. and India. Her play, “Alka Alka,” among other short sketches, was staged in L.A., and she has performed as an actor in film and on stage. Harshi is also co-author, with her brother Parvin D. Syal, of a collection of stories, “African Quilt – Stories of the Asian Indian Experience in Kenya.” Harshi now resides in Granada Hills, California. PARVIN D. SYAL Born and educated in Nairobi, Kenya, Parvin D. Syal has made Los Angeles his home since the mid 1970s. A practicing physician, Syal has forayed into different fields; as a community activist he promoted the interests of people of Indian origin, as a journalist he wrote political and literary columns for the ethnic press, as a broadcaster he hosted a health program on radio, as an actor he performed in film and on stage for which he wrote as well. He is co-author, with Harshi Syal Gill, of an anthology of stories of the Asian Indian experience in Kenya, “African Quilt.” Following up on contributions to literary magazines, Syal also published his collection of poetry, “Streams of Consciousness.” His adaptation, in Hindi, of the Neil Simon play, “Barefoot in the Park,” was staged by “The Wandering Players” in L.A. Syal’s one act play, “Through a Handcuff,” won a prize in a competition organized by the University of Nairobi, where he was a medical student. “God Minus” is his second collaboration with his sister, Harshi Syal Gill.

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      Book preview

      Reflections - Harshi Syal Gill

      © 2012 by Harshi Syal Gill. All rights reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

      Inside Illustrations by Verinda Mudan

      Published by AuthorHouse 08/02/2012

      ISBN: 978-1-4772-5356-4 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4772-5355-7 (e)

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      This book is printed on acid-free paper.

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      DEDICATED TO

      PARIKSHAT BALRAJ SAHNI

      Also in memory of

      Dr. Angus Calder,

      remembered on the literary scene as a social and cultural historian,

      and personally as a teacher, mentor and dear friend.

      The following poem was written by Angus to me years ago. I take the liberty of reproducing it here, along with my response.

      Moving At Night

      by Angus Calder

      Coldly the walls withdraw

      but the tables

            are surely

         shifting

               to knock me

      Now my family is asleep

         the flat is full of distance

      and I move

            tautly

               anxious

            to make

               very little noise

      A man lost in the bush

                  might walk so

      carefully

            ten miles

      the jet traverses

               in a slick minute

      And then one daughter cries. The plane

      crashes. The bush is battered into

      flames. As time and space pounce at him

      a man can only help

            or run away

               to nowhere

      Stillness

      By Harshi Syal Gill

      Shrill and sharp

      the crash

      of the plane

      The bush burst

            into fire

      Severed all heads

      and burnt

            to the core

      You prodded and poked

            in the debris

      Only hands charred

      Engulfed in the nothingness

            left behind

      Withdraw then

      into the sanctity

            of the walls

      and be knocked

      You cannot run away

            to nowhere

      or seek

         to help

      Contents

      Changing Seasons

      Love Is . . . .

      Nyali Beach

      Nameless

      Fury

      Little Bird

      Sentries In The Snow

      Rebellion

      Benediction

      Return Of Papa

      Desert Bloom

      Waiting

      The Inner Circle

      Loneliness

      Remembering Her

      Karvachauth

      Without You

      Forever

      Stay By My Side

      Worth Waiting For

      Passage

      The Day Is Over

      Vision Of Ecstasy

      Shadows

      The Sun In My Eye

      Driving Together

      Morning

      Repose

      Waimea Lookout, Kauai

      Moon Divided

      Capturing Memories

      Of Home

      Gifts For Me

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