‘Fall of the Last Petal’ is my third collection of English Poems, the other two being ‘Silence between two Words’ and ‘A Dialogue of Yesterday…….Continues’. A poet per se should not speak more. His poems should. ‘Fall of the Last Petal’ is an anecdotal metaphor of transformation of a beast into a man. To a pair of bare eyes, the fall of the last petal is the declaration of the death of the flower. A poet, however sees this whole episode to be a narrative of renewal and regeneration of life in the ever present Cycle of Life and Death. A petal returns to the womb and takes a rebirth to become a full-blown flower. What we see is not the whole truth, a lot remains unseen. Life, the ever present knows no finality. Death also is not the end. To be prescient, there is no beginning and no end. The Eliotesque narration in ‘Burnt Norton’ (No.1 of ‘Four Quartets) is apt here to be quoted verbatim. “Time present and time past Are both perhaps present in time future And time future contained in time past”.

“What might have been is an abstraction

Remaining a perpetual possibility”.

The poet does not have the sole and exclusive right over his poem. At times, poem chooses the poet. Words on their own dictate the poet to note down the lines. The only intellectual capital of the poet, if there is any, in his poetic sensibilities and perspective. Sensibility is his inward being and perspective is how he sees his surroundings. Sometimes the poet remains in the oblivion, outside the circumference of the poem. That is the discourse of his meditation, and salvation. What more does a poet need to prove his existence ? My book is now in your hands for critical scrutiny which you have acquired with the language of your consciousness and wisdom. It gives me immense pleasure to expect my readers to have an open dialogue with the poems. I am to conclude with the extract of the poem “Accomplice” by Jorge Luis Borges. “They crucify me, I have to be the Cross, the nails. They hand me the cup, I have to be the hemlock They trick me, I have to be the lie They burn me alive, I have to be the hell”. Need I say anything more after the extract ? —Dr. Ratikanta Mishra

ଜଣେ ସାହିତ୍ୟିକ ସମକାଳୀନ ସମାଜରେ ନିଜର ଜୀବନଚର୍ଯ୍ୟା ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସାମାଜିକ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ସମ୍ପାଦନ କରିବା ସମୟରେ କେତେକ ଅନୁଭବ ଅନୁଭୂତି, ଅନ୍ୟାୟ, ଅସଙ୍ଗତି,ପ୍ରତିକୂଳ ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ଶୋଷଣ କୁସଂସ୍କାର ବିରୋଧରେ ନିଜ ଲେଖନୀ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ସ୍ୱର ଉତ୍ତୋଳନ କରିଥାଏ ଯାହାର କି ଏକ ସୁଦୂର ବିସ୍ତାରି ପ୍ରଭାବ ସମାଜ ଉପରେ ପଡ଼ିବା ଫଳରେ କିଛିଟା ସଂସ୍କାର ଆସିଥାଏ।

ଅନୁରୂପ ଭାବେ ଜୀବନ ଜଞ୍ଜାଳ ତେଲ ଲୁଣ ସଂସାର ସାମାଜିକ ନୈତିକ ଦାୟିତ୍ୱ ନର୍ବାହ କରିବା ବେଳେ କେତେକ ଅନୁଭୂତି ଓ ଅନୁଭବର ପ୍ରତିଫଳନ ହୋଇଛି ମୋର ଏହି କବିତା ସଙ୍କଳନ ‘ଫିକା ବସନ୍ତ’ରେ। କବିତାଗୁଡ଼ିକ ନୈତିକତା, ମାନବୀୟ ମୂଲ୍ୟବୋଧ ଓ ସାଙ୍କେତିକ ସଂସ୍କାର ଉପରେ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟବେଷିତ, କବିତା ସଙ୍କଳନଟି ପାଠକୀୟ ଆଦୃତି ଲାଭ କଲେ ମୋର ଶ୍ରମ ସାର୍ଥକ ହେବ। —କମଳା ପ୍ରସାଦ ମହାପାତ୍ର

This collection of poems is a journey of love, loss, grief, and remembrance-a tribute to the most precious soul in my life, my mother. From my earliest childhood memories to the days of her illness, passing, and beyond, these poems capture moments both tender and painful, moments that shaped who I am.

Each poem is a conversation with her-sometimes a whisper, sometimes a cry. Through these verses, I remember her care, her sacrifices, her laughter, and her strength. I relive the moments she held me close, guided me through life, and protected our family. I also share the void left in her absence, the helplessness, and the unbearable pain of losing her.

Even in grief, there is a thread of hope-her presence continues to guide me, silently, invisibly. These poems are a testament to the eternal bond between a mother and her children. They speak of how love never truly leaves, how memory becomes a home, and how a mother’s essence can live forever in her family, even after she is gone.

A mother is the first light of our lives. She is the source of unconditional love, nurturing care, and wisdom that shapes us long before we can even understand the world. In her embrace, we find safety; in her eyes, we find guidance; in her voice, we find comfort. The presence of a mother is the foundation of every child’s life. Yet, too often, we take her love for granted-assuming she will always be there. The truth, as these poems painfully remind me, is that a mother’s presence is precious, fragile, and irreplaceable. Losing her is a wound that no passage of time can entirely heal.

Through these poems, I also reflect on the subtle ways in which a mother’s influence continues even after her physical presence fades. Her lessons, her care, her laughter, and even her silence guide us. She is present in our daily actions, our decisions, and in the love we extend to others. She becomes our moral compass, our silent mentor, and the voice that whispers strength when we are weakest.

These poems are not only my personal homage to my mother but a gentle reminder to every reader: never take your mother for granted. Life is unpredictable, and the moments we spend with her-whether teaching, scolding, laughing, or simply sitting together-are treasures beyond measure. Cherish her, honor her, and let her know she is loved every day, for once she is gone, no wealth or achievement can replace the warmth she gave us.

In these pages, you will find stories of childhood, small joys, care, illness, helplessness, and final separation. You will read about the days of COVID, when her strength shone even in adversity; the helplessness of hospitals and silence; the rituals and grief that followed her passing; and the continuing presence of her love in my life, my family, and my daughter. Every poem is a step through sorrow and a step toward remembrance, a way of keeping her alive in memory and in spirit.

My hope is that this book becomes a bridge-for me, for my family, and for every reader-between loss and love, grief and gratitude. It is a call to value our mothers while we can, to honor them, and to recognize that the lessons, love, and guidance they give us are among life’s greatest gifts. They are the roots that sustain us, the wings that allow us to rise, and the light that guides us home, even when all seems dark.

This collection, therefore, is both a personal journey and a universal message: mothers are sacred, irreplaceable, and eternal in the hearts of their children. May these poems remind every reader of the blessing of a mother’s love and the duty to cherish it.

– Sonali Sahu