An elaboration of Aristotle’s belief that all imitative arts have an inherent kinship, The Delphic Musings is an unusual volume of poems by L. S. Rathore. Like the predictions of the Delphic oracle, the poems thrill, surprise, bewilder, arouse hopes and kindle dreams.
The poet’s range is incredibly vast – ‘For me anything that agitates, consoles, inspires, electrifies and liberates constitutes poetry’.
Form is what he stresses. His usual preference is a sonnet, sometimes an extended one. But he candidly confesses his failings as a poet
I don’t obsess over the number of syllables,
Nor the imitation of the immortals.
If I do-some syllables intrude, others tumble out
Virtually triggering a chaotic rout.
The distinguishing feature of his poetry is the use of end rhymes. K. Satchidanandan finds his poems easy-flowing ‘Rhymes seem to come naturally to the poet.’ Here a literary critic is reminded of William Wordsworth who opines that Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility. Somewhat similar is the manner in which the poet has created the best of his poetic pieces. Most poems have internal rhymes and distinct rhythmic patterns as well. They retain the ability to charm the readers with their sweetness and elegance. The poet’s subtle sensibility and keen sensitivity enhance the appeal of his poems which indubitably warm the cockles of our hearts. Mark how minute changes in nature rivet his attention !
Tiny drops turn into vapours, then into clouds
Scudding fast to form volatile crowds
—–
Rain drops and life interplay
In a spirit gay
Like the notes in a symphony
Rising, falling, diverging, coalescing for eternity.
Indeed Rathore’s poems are loaded with the jewels of several poetic devices such as metaphor, simile, alliteration and so on. How enchantingly the poet employs the poetic device of alliteration in the following lines.
Demons devouring demure damsels form a spectacle
So do frolicsome fairies flirting win a fickle angel
As a pictorial artist he equals John Keats. His portraits surpass those of his contemporary poets.Rathore’s poetry refreshes as a whiff of vernal breeze. Here is an iconoclast who comes up with and sells his own vision as well as dreams. A fabulous creative endeavour indeed !
Greek myth’s recreation is so delightful –
Rash was I to choose you
Behaving like an errant beau
One is amazed at the way wherein he turns myths into memorable poetry
The bewitching voice of a siren
Always led to voyagers’ ruin
His poetry is steeped in romanticism of sublime level. Every now and then he articulates romantic longings.
While deliberating on the language and diction in which the poems are couched , one is reminded of Mathew Arnold who is quite pertinently of the opinion that sublime emotions can only be expressed satisfactorily in an equally sublime language. Indubitably, the poet seems to echo Mathew Arnold as the language he chooses to unfold the various aspects of his deeply
sensitive poems reveals the linguistic competence of its creator. The selection of morphological items, stylistics, and diction is splendid. Shorn of all the complexities of a pedantic scholar, each line issues like a sounding cataract directly from the author’s heart. Certainly a must read for the all the apostles of Muse !
