IN SEARCH OF THE SELF AND ETERNITY

Through poetry, Chowritmootoo (Conscience, 2008) inspects several facets of eternity, emotion and human interaction.

In his latest book, Chowritmootoo delivers a collection of poetry that blends many things: admitted and blissful ignorance regarding the universe and eternity, total self-absorption that mimics the scribbles of an angst-ridden teenager, and poems formed as carefully as crystals. This happy mix results in lines like, “How could you not see / No food in the pantry? / What are we to eat / When the food you sell / The drug crave to meet? / Oh! Mama Oh! / We love you so; / We love you more than / You care to know.” Sophisticated language, an expansive vocabulary and glimpses of the condition of the world (demonstrated in poems like “January 12, 2010 The Haitian World Shook”) are occasionally lost in a fusion of wonder, a pummeling of unanswered questions and distracting syntax. However, the occasional polished, cohesive poem will grab readers and refuse to let go until they’ve developed a new perspective on the mysteries of life and spirituality, nodded their heads in understanding (perhaps while reading “Depression” if they’ve experienced it, or even “Greed”), or felt inspired to change something ugly about the state of humanity. Regardless of tone and rhythm, each poem and observation hums with an underlying passion and sometimes a contagious restlessness or disappointment. Some of the poems manage to end in exactly the right spot with sincere closure; others, however, wander along, ending well after they should have and losing some of their effectiveness. Most readers should be able to deeply identify with at least one or two poems in the book.

This eclectic assemblage of topics—encompassing the self, God, spirituality and eternity—is a worthy read, especially for those feeling lost and disconnected.