Creating Verse Sheds Light on Life

  The Kathmandu Post, 14 January, 2001

 

Kathmandu. What could be the biggest achievement of human beings in their two million years long existence? According to the Brigid O'Conner, the acting director of the British Council, it is that the race learned to stand upright and express their feelings.

Thanks to this "achievement," a group of 26 young people have come up with a book on writing, editing and publishing poetry "Creating Verse", which was launched by O'Connor today.

The poetry covers a wide range: from a ninth standard student to an author of a book in three volumes. Their pens shed light like different colors of the prism, a colorful future is before them. Some are optimistic and some show their frustration. Isha Acharya, a ninth grade student is philosophic: "Hundred of years have gone, millions of books have been written. But could we introduce ourselves? Introductions are not easy."

Arati Dahal has many dreams. She says: "I am a single queen because I am the queen of my dreams." Whereas, Sudarshan Guruacharya finds disillusionment: "After all, I'm a lunatic lover whose verses no one finds poetic." Eighteen of them attended a workshop on poetry, on October 1 and 2, where they discussed heir poems, views and experiences with Patricia Oxley and William Oxley as well as with each other, according to Para Limbu, a member of the editorial team.

Along with selected poems from William's Kathmandu Reading, thirteen poems composed on the spot during the workshop are also included in the collection. A 17-year-old artist from Jhochhen, Sovit Man Baniya, exhibited his paintings through computer-aided visuals during the program.