At GALF poetry reading session… (l to r) Sheela Jaywant, Sohani Almeida and Enes Cevik
THERE wasn’t much poetry at this year’s Goa Art & Literary Festival (GALF, from February 13-15, 2025) but one session which tempted and I found myself listening in to was titled “Poetry is Like a Bird” — featuring poetry readings by Sheela Jaywant, Sohani Almeida and Enes Cevik. Poetry is no longer such a sad song, I found myself thinking whimsically and got mesmerized by the poetry of self-discovery, love and transformation which Sohani Almeida Coutinho read out most articulately at the session.
This poet says “by day she is a lead consultant leveraging her analytical mind and business acumen, honed through her engineering MBA degrees” and by night or so to speak she takes to writing poetry to explore her feelings for the village she loves, namely Assolna down south Goa …here’s a voice worth making time for it has a refreshing take about how the young generation is no longer smitten or enamored by the bright lights of urban life.
Sohani prefers her village home, keeping connections alive with her own family folk and friends, seeking growth where her roots are…her poems speak engagingly of the value of relationships, reflections and growing in one’s own contexts and premises.
Interestingly, she shared that her poetry book came about courtesy an interesting offer which came online from BookLeaf Publishing Platform – where the party publishes your poetry for you and “gives the author one copy free!” This means you have to buy a certain number of copies! But the offer sounded so good, it was an unbeatable offer for her and she sought to publish her collection of poetry; from what I can see with the result (a copy in hand) the production values and presentation is good, it’s a slim volume titled “Heartbeats & Handprints.” It packs 21 poems eminently covering a host of subjects bothering young women!
Reading poetry sensitizes us more than any other form of literature, I dare say; do catch up with Sohani Almeida Coutinho’s poetry, it speaks of life, love and the dilemmas accompanying it…here’s a fresh voice to take to as I did! A poet who loves her Goa. I cannot do better than present a selection of her poems here, which she read out at the GALF session and some more from her debut collection (see here in box).
OF the other two poets who read at the session Sheela Jaywant is a familiar voice for most of us in Goa. A Bombay girl she is settled in Sangolda for many years now and a recognized and much liked writer and media person; she can certainly hold forth with lively flair and is a treat to listen to. Sheela has authored several books including “The First Book of Indlish Poems” which was published in 2022. Other books include “Quilted: Stories of Middle-Class India,” “Liftman and Other Stories” and some more, please look her up for more details.
Enes Cevik’s was so soft in her reading that it was almost inaudible, despite several in the audience appealing “Louder please!” Sorry, I pretty much lost most of her reading but here’s a much travelled writer of Turkish-German roots. She’s clearly in love with words and writes with passion, both poetry and prose. All three poets have interesting voices so do look them up some more!
FAST FOR YOUR OWN WELLBEING
FRIENDS asked me what did I do for Shivratri this year? I said nothing beyond eating two bananas, a vegetarian lunch at a place I’m beginning to get addicted, just water for dinner, and that’s it. I know you may call it exotic fasting on one meal! Well, there were things I wanted to do but lately I’ve been unable to do them. So I did not do anything much to write home about this Shivratri season which will of course continue in observation until Holi comes around. Oh yes, I’ve decided to substitute sliced white bread with Goa’s wonderful sweet potatoes henceforth.
This Shivratri I decided that fast days should not be adhered to by women only, they should also be observed by men – that is if we believe in any kind of fair play in all kinds of relationships — marital, non-marital, for wellbeing or just to highlight a good cause. Best of all fast for yourself and your own wellbeing more often! There’s more to life than hidebound reasons of tradition which have long since changed in premise and context. On that note it’s avjo, selamat datang, poite verem, au revoir, arrivedecci, hasta la vista and vachun yeta here for now!
-Mme Butterfly
A few poems from `Heartbeats & Handprints’ by Sohani Almeida Coutinho …
ASSOLNA
A place like no other, Oslem na’ we call her
A hidden gem of the south side,
Situated on the Saal riverside
Nature comes to life in its true essence
The birds chirping, coconut trees, curvy roads, and a lot
Of breeze
Summer allows the best sunsets &
Winter has the best weather
The rain Gods steal the thunder,
Everything is greener, better
The grand entry over one bridge & the majestic sunset
Over the other
The medieval church & the Krist Ray with their beautiful architecture
It’s where I studied numbers & letters;
It’s where I learnt of worldly matters
It’s where I could play Kho-kho,
And run after the chicks and piggos
It’s where family is extended & community is strong,
The people decide right from wrong
It’s where I always return; from school, a vacation or a life decision.
For a tradition or a celebration
It’s a land of opportunity, once I return from the city
It’s a calling of belonging, a letter from my ancestors,
an email to my descendants
It’s what I chose, it’s where I have grown and
all I’ve ever known.
My village, my home.
BE YOU
Be you if you’re timid or shy, or if you’re fly
Be you if you’re eastern, western,
Democratic or republican
Be you if God exists or if she doesn’t,
If she’s Catholic, Hindu or Zoroastrian
Be you if you’re black white or brown
Be you if you’re an analyst, doctor or farmer
Be you if you’re single, married, a father or a caregiver.
Be you when it’s easy or hard, in the present or the past
Be you in your vision and mission,
In your royal presence
Be you with a waiter, beggar or the prime minister
Be you with the one who matters
Or the hundred commentators
Be you at home or in a different continent, now or later
Be you when you’re happy and sure,
Also when you fear
Be you cos it’s magical and sparkling;
A happy gut feeling
Be you cos it keeps you glowing, anti-ageing
Be you cos it’s easier and free-er
Be you irrespective & always, it doesn’t matter.
UNCONDITIONAL
He loves me when I am pretty and poised,
Or crumbled and soiled
He loves me in kisses and angry gazes
He loves me when I am chirpy or painfully sassy
He loves me for my drive, or my nasty lazy
He loves my go getter but also my procrastinating later
Time becomes irrelevant;
Was it minutes, hours or a day passé?
The location doesn’t matter,
It is always an adventure
He loves me at my happy best, and my moody worst
He loves me for my wit and grit
He loves me in my presence and absence
He loves my magic, my essence.