Review by DewDrop8 -- Bleeding Gull - look, feel, fly
Posted: 05 Dec 2017, 07:15
[Following is a volunteer review of "Bleeding Gull - look, feel, fly" by Raed Anis Aljishi.]
4 out of 4 stars
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A Compendium of Impromptu Koans
As I started reading this little book of lyrical snapshots, the first word that sprang to my mind was “sutra”. A “sutra” is an apt spiritual aphorism that sums up a profound idea in a laconic, simple sentence or phrase. This word is generally used in Buddhist circle. However, the short poems in this book of poetry, which has that clear Sufi undercurrent, are very much sutra-like that it gently beckons you to devour all of it in just one sitting (which is precisely what this reviewer did!)
In Bleeding Gull: Look , Feel, Fly, the poet Raed Anis Al-Jishi tries to capture fleeting moments in minuscule verbal snapshots. In one of my personal favourite poems, entitled ‘Serving a Smile’ (pg 63), he talks of “bashful tradition / In hospitality” of Arabs whose coffee is sweeter without sugar, a few pages later we get a evanescent and yet inedible impression of the “holy spot” (third eye) “Where / Angels burn their feathers …”.
Such is the sweet brevity of Raed’s poetry that some of the phrases whirl around in your head even after you put the book down. His words at times shock you (“my naked pulses stuttered”) and sometimes perplex you (“Rising from my soul / As hallow as a bubble, / Shallow as a doll) (pg 83)
Only one who is given to spontaneous bursts of contemplation can pen such lines. Raed’s sensitivity is palpable right from the very first line and we immediately see that he is not going to mince his words even if this baring of the soul is going to be incredibly painful to him (and it is, so much so that you feel his feelings, both good and bad with a vicarious pleasure of sorts)
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars - I don’t have to think about this at all because I haven’t come across a compendium of poems more moving than found here for months, to say the least. The editing is superb and flawless. The hand of a meticulous editor is obvious.
If I had to nitpick, I will say this much though - the poems at times are too short that they promise a climactic moment of emotional fulfilment and yet fall short, owing to the simply fact that some of them are too short indeed to capture the depth of emotion that was promised at the very outset. But as Keats said, “Heard Melodies Are Sweet, but Those Unheard Are Sweeter”. Enough said! It goes without saying that I highly recommend this little book of poems! Good job Raed!
******
Bleeding Gull - look, feel, fly
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4 out of 4 stars
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A Compendium of Impromptu Koans
As I started reading this little book of lyrical snapshots, the first word that sprang to my mind was “sutra”. A “sutra” is an apt spiritual aphorism that sums up a profound idea in a laconic, simple sentence or phrase. This word is generally used in Buddhist circle. However, the short poems in this book of poetry, which has that clear Sufi undercurrent, are very much sutra-like that it gently beckons you to devour all of it in just one sitting (which is precisely what this reviewer did!)
In Bleeding Gull: Look , Feel, Fly, the poet Raed Anis Al-Jishi tries to capture fleeting moments in minuscule verbal snapshots. In one of my personal favourite poems, entitled ‘Serving a Smile’ (pg 63), he talks of “bashful tradition / In hospitality” of Arabs whose coffee is sweeter without sugar, a few pages later we get a evanescent and yet inedible impression of the “holy spot” (third eye) “Where / Angels burn their feathers …”.
Such is the sweet brevity of Raed’s poetry that some of the phrases whirl around in your head even after you put the book down. His words at times shock you (“my naked pulses stuttered”) and sometimes perplex you (“Rising from my soul / As hallow as a bubble, / Shallow as a doll) (pg 83)
Only one who is given to spontaneous bursts of contemplation can pen such lines. Raed’s sensitivity is palpable right from the very first line and we immediately see that he is not going to mince his words even if this baring of the soul is going to be incredibly painful to him (and it is, so much so that you feel his feelings, both good and bad with a vicarious pleasure of sorts)
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars - I don’t have to think about this at all because I haven’t come across a compendium of poems more moving than found here for months, to say the least. The editing is superb and flawless. The hand of a meticulous editor is obvious.
If I had to nitpick, I will say this much though - the poems at times are too short that they promise a climactic moment of emotional fulfilment and yet fall short, owing to the simply fact that some of them are too short indeed to capture the depth of emotion that was promised at the very outset. But as Keats said, “Heard Melodies Are Sweet, but Those Unheard Are Sweeter”. Enough said! It goes without saying that I highly recommend this little book of poems! Good job Raed!
******
Bleeding Gull - look, feel, fly
View: on Bookshelves
Like DewDrop8's review? Post a comment saying so!