KOCHI: “Hope and fear, smile and sigh are all interwoven in her work,” said Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi, writer, about ‘Tamed Horses’, a collection of 50 poems written by Jasmine James. “I have been writing for 20 years, and I’ve selected a couple of poems for the book. Topics such as spirituality, relationships, influencers, family and philosophy have been covered,” said Jasmine James, author.
The book encompasses emotions showcasing devotion, love, grief, sorrow, oppression and emptiness. Jasmine is a professional textile designer and illustrator. The tone of her poems and strong lyricism will surely find an echo in the countless numbers of those who have loved and lost. ‘Not everyone can be that friend’ is one of the most heart touching poems that cut deep into the sphere of emotions. The poem talks about that one friend everyone should have in their life. ‘A friend who needs you to, like a phoenix, soar into the endless azure, who would love every atom of you and who finds light in your darkness’, purely God-sent, in her words.
The author has an immense capacity to project emotions with the help of powerful linguistics. In stark contrast to the normal poetic inclinations comes the poem, ‘The fire in the box’. The lines, ‘He guards my secrets under a primitive oath, asks me questions, tells me things I loathe’ speaks volumes about the bold nature of the poet to write about highly sensitive topics that would invite criticism and infuriation.
The poem ‘White-washed tombs’, invokes deep thought. ‘White-washed tombs.. they count me one among fools and judge without seeing, but I don’t care, I’m a better human being’, these lines make the reader rethink all those plastic smiles and fake tears people offer in everyday life.
Like her poems, the book cover is unique. “The cover of the book is a pencil drawing influenced by the Vintage, Baroque and Rocco themes. I have given it an earthy brown tone,” said Jasmine. According to the author, ‘Tamed Horses’ is a relatable book. Here, tamed horses symbolise human beings.
They have humane feelings and emotions. It can also be relatable to a woman with suppressed feelings,” said Jasmine. She is currently working on her next book. “I would like to do Malayalam short stories in the future,” she added.