Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 16, 2014 News
By Sunita Samaroo
Even as she confronts the reality of dwindling interest in poetry, the lifelong dream of being a writer has now come true for Annalisa Bahadur, who recently published her first book of poetry, A Flower’s Envy.
Bahadur, a former journalist and television anchor, tells that she capitalized on her unique experiences growing up as a young woman in Guyana as well as her years spent in India to give A Flower’s Envy a decidedly “global perspective”. Her collection of poems has been accredited as one which captures the full gamut of women’s experiences as lovers, mothers, daughters, friends, and workers.
The writer promised that in the anthology, poetry aficionados will discover “an easy-to-read, thought-provoking, and lyrical look at the lives of women, and in truth, the beauty and hope inherent in the universal human condition.”
The 34-year-old author and poet, who grew up in Berbice, credited her late mom for nurturing her love for writing. She also thanked her high school English teacher, ‘Ms. Sylvie’ for never giving up on her through her “teenage tantrums”.
In an interview with this newspaper, Bahadur divulged that she first fell in love with writing at age twelve, when her high school, Tagore Memorial Secondary in Berbice, published her first short story in its 1992 journal.
Now living in Manhattan, United States of America, Bahadur had worked as a news anchor and reporter for nine years in Guyana, and also served as an assistant editor of a magazine, Durga Das Publishing, in India.
With the release of A Flower’s Envy, the poet explained that it is with this backdrop that she hopes to touch readers’ hearts while finding commonalities in women’s experiences worldwide.
Bahadur’s tender tributes to her two children and her vulnerable yet insightful observations of heartbreak and loss are particularly noteworthy for the sense of hope implicit in their sentiments.
She told Kaieteur News that some of the poems featured were written in 2007 “…but then life got busy. I always liked writing and knew that someday I would start publishing. This had been my lifelong dream.”
Asked about the challenges she faced in having her work published, it was stressed that “writing poetry alone is a challenge especially when our audience is dwindling.”
“I often felt overwhelmed when I thought of contacting the various publishing houses. After months of researching, I realised that I could enlist the help of CreateSpace. They were willing to edit, market and publish my book,” Bahadur said.
“I know that having a book published is an accomplishment. I’m happy that I’ve been able to finally realise this dream. I know my mom would be proud, since she nurtured the beginnings of my writing path. My absolute joy is in writing.”
Asked whether any of the poems reflect where she is emotional in her life, Bahadur said that even though none of those pieces do, she is quite satisfied with the path her life has led to.
She admitted that the response the book has garnered was unexpected. “I’m touched. I’ve been asked to attend poetry readings and book signings. It’s still a little too much for me to fathom but I am truly grateful.”
The poet revealed that she is in the process of compiling another book. “It is my hope to have it released in time for what would have been my mom’s birthday in June.”6
“Two of my poems deal with the pain of losing my mom. Some are of women being abused emotionally, physically and financially.” Bahadur said that she observed the lives of abused women and penned poems about it.
“My poems won’t change anyone. All they do is probably let someone know that they are not alone. Many of my readers have said that they could relate to one or another of my poems.”
She said too that there are two poems which pay tribute to her children. “These poems were more of pouring out my soul. The next release promises to be more of the world as I see it.”
“My hope for publishing the book is that it can give others that drive to follow their dreams and to never give up. I was a little carefree country girl with what I thought was an impossible dream. I know if I can do this, anyone can.”
The book hit the shelves of New York in October. It is also available on Amazon, one of the largest online shopping websites.
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