Wings looks like a great debut collection of poems.
Can you tell us a little about the four main sections of the book?
Thanks
so much for those kind words! Wings is divided into four sections, each representing a different phase
in life.
The Uninitiated covers themes
such chasing dreams, seeking love and the high life, while the Maimed deals
with grief, pain, and heartbreak. The Thinker captures
reflections and rationalizations, and the Enlightened encapsulates
finding true love and meaning in life. These phases are a chronological
representation of what I experienced growing up as a young man drawn to the
glittering offerings of the high life.
It was great fun in the beginning, however
after burning the candle on both ends with work and partying, I got burnt out
in the process. I also got to experience the darker side of corporate life with
the politics and the endless games. On a personal level, I experienced numerous
turmoils, all of which is covered in the Uninitiated
part of the book.
This led to a low point in my life where
everything around me that I had worked hard to build began to collapse, these
feelings were very raw and is covered in the Maimed part of the book. After reaching perhaps the lowest part of
my life, I began to seek understanding and rationalizing why these events and
feelings were occurring. The Thinker
embodies these reflections.
The Enlightened
section of the book encapsulates the answers to what I was seeking and the
general sense of emptiness that we feel when we truly don’t understand our
sense of purpose and more importantly ourselves.
Why did you choose the title Wings and what can you tell us about all
the illustrations?
As
the book is divided into four parts, it is very much based on the analogy of a
butterfly’s life. The Uninitiated is
illustrated as butterflies being drawn to a bright light, which represents the
glittering wonders of the high life. The Maimed
is based on analogy for getting too close to the flame and getting hurt and is
illustrated as a butterfly with burnt wings. While the Thinker is the rationalization phase and is depicted as a cocoon.
The final section is the Enlightened,
this is illustrated as a butterfly in free flight after emerging from the
cocoon.
Although,
you could argue that Butterflies are diurnal creatures of the day and they
would not be attracted to the flame, which would be a great observation on the
reader’s part!
Butterflies
are majestic creatures that represent so much beauty and calmness as the float
seamlessly through the air. I chose the Butterfly to represent us as human
beings with such unrealized beauty as we pass through our journey in this
world, which is why I chose the title Wings!
Each
of the poems in the book is illustrated to capture the essence of the prose and
to bring the words to life.
What inspired you when writing Wings?
I believe that when we
write poetry, it is interpreted at different levels. Firstly, it’s about the
poet’s experience and message, it is then what the reader interprets and gains
from the readings. I hope by sharing my journey that my readers will trust in
their own resilience and celebrate this time we have here in its entirety with
its peaks and troughs.
My parents have had such a
huge impact in my life! My Dad is an entomologist, so the Butterfly analogy is
a tribute to him and his guidance in my life. My Mom was a English teacher, so
the prose itself is dedicated to her as a gratitude for all the love she has
given me!
How long did it take you to write Wings?
Wings is a reflection of
thoughts and feelings that has taken me over thirty years of reflections and
experience to pen into words.
Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when
writing Wings?
It
is quite challenging revisiting those moments that cause you the greatest pain
and trying to rationalize and capture those feelings and lessons in words.
I
am a trained Engineer with an MBA and a former Naval Officer, while I strongly
identify as a creative soul through my writing and music. There are times when
these two mindsets are in conflict as one is very analytical and structured,
and the other quite emotional and raw. Finding the balance and utilizing this
in my writing can be challenging at times but I believe they are both a very
strong part of me and this flows into my writing.
What do you like to do when not writing?
After
travelling extensively, I am still very much amazed at the beauty of New
Zealand, which is where I reside, so I try and spend as time as possible
exploring this beautiful country. I also find it very uplifting spending time
with family and friends.
I
quite enjoy jamming and performing with my band, nothing beats the feeling and
energy you get from combined creativity that you experience and the connection
with the audience. I am usually reading
a book, currently reading the ‘Dark Tower’ series by Stephen King.
Where can readers find out more about your work?
On facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wingsavipranish
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