Jyoti's poetry delivers life-affirming voice

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 5: Poet Jyoti Jungle from Biratnagar has brought out a collection of poetry titled 'On A Flight' in English. This book is an anthology of her representative poems translated from Nepali into English by aclaimed translators.

Jyoti is shy-nature poet, a trait that clearly reflects in her writing. The book vividly features a subltle feminist as well as life-affirming voice. Her imagery, symbols, metaphors, and similes soften her capacity for articulation while imbuing it with power. The essence of literature lies in its ideology, and Jyoti's poetry is not an exception. Her poems are not loud. They speak softly, delivering clear voice.

Jyoti writes in a poem–

And for this very reason,I will not commit suicide.

Of course, the reason is the inseparable love for life."Jyoti's poetry is unique in one important sense- she puts the self of a speaker in the poem as a representative voice  of a woman," Prof. Abhi Subedi writes in his preface. 

"Her writing is deeply insightful," the publisher has written in the blurb. "Through striking imagery and subtle observations of life and nature, Jyoti turns local into the universal."

Poems titled such as 'She who is cutting grass', 'Morning birds', 'Take it with you', 'After amputation', 'Anam cara', 'Self-blessing', 'I won't commit suicide', 'Mother's visage', and Evocation are more worth reading. 

The translations are done by Abhi Subedi, Suman Pokhrel, Sarthak Karki, Mukul Dahal, Mahesh Paudyal, Niyata Poudel, Rupsingh Bhandari, Keshav Sigdel, Jeebesh Raymajhi, Haris Adhikari, Ganesh Khaniya, Durga Banbasi and Balika Thapaliya.

A poet from Jhapa, Jyoti Jungle began writing in 1991. Her first book was published in 2005. She is a poet, short story writer, Ghazalist, lyricist, and essayist. 

Previously, she had published six books, including Pahad Ko Man, Mukta Samaya, Adha Shir Uchalera (all poetry collections), Chhaya (story collection), and Akshyarma Timi (Ghazal collection). She originally writes in Nepali and her poems are translated into English, Bangla and Hindi.

Published by Red Panda Books, the collection consists of 42 poems of miscellaneous flavours. The book is priced at Rs. 425.