Sir,
Wholehearted congratulation and regards to you for bringing out 'Poets International' in highly refined manner to make emphatic devotion to literature, art, culture and creativity.
With kind regards,
Kunga Gyatso Bhutia,
(Gangtok, India)
Sir,
MY MASTER
I have a teacher
He teaches literature through poetry.
He is a poet par excellence
Each line he writes is full of meaning
Each line has rhyme, rhythm and melody
Each line has a silvery line
Each line has a golden shine
Each line has a golden touch
He teaches young and old
No restriction of age to his student
A student can not ask how old the teacher is
He teaches students at different places
And at different timings
No attendance he maintains
His poems comprise of all forms and styles
It is a pleasure to read his poems
He will be kind to all
Soft in nature and always smiling
No one has ever seen him in anger
He is a writer too and has written several books
On different branches of literature
His name and fame has reached at global level
The greatest bard of yester years
Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets
The present bard of these days
Has written 180 sonnets!
He has excelled the record of earlier bard as on date
He is liked by one and all
He is ever helpful to others
Let us all wish him prosperity
Happiness and longevity
Who is this master?
Guess who is he?
You have the answer!
Yes, he is Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin!
M. Nagaraj
(Bangalore, India)
Sir,
I know you will be surprised at this sudden message from me.
I write to inform you that I am going over to Bangalore early in the second week of this month, trying for admission of my son in one of the Bangalore Institutions. This is the first time I am visiting Bangalore where there are so many poets writing in English.
I desire to seize upon this opportunity to see you in person and meet other poets writing in English.
If you wish for me to see you in person and meet other poets associated with Poets International, please email me your phone/mobile number so that I can ring you up, on reaching Bangalore.
I attach the updated biographical information about me, for we have been out of touch with each other for a long time.
With my kind regards
Sincerely yours
Dr Bhaskar Roy Barman
(Agartala, West Tripura, India
Sir,
It was nice speaking to you on evening of 18th June 2010 and very many thanks for the complimentary copy of the new version of PI - June 2010.
The new version looks fantastic and appealing. Herewith my thoughts on the new spotlight of PI in limelight:
As Seneca put it "The mind is slow to unlearn what it learn early", I commend your unstinted effort and determination in turning many a bud longing for earning poetic talent into blooming blossoms of poets - as I can very easily visualize the smiling happiness on your face as you see them ascending in their pursuit of excellence in poetics and creativity - spreading as pervasively and seamlessly as the sunshine.
Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin, you are a poet-of-essence
Poetics and Creativity, your quintessence
From Poetic Sense To Poetic Incense
Strong Effort was your preference in precedence
You have treasured 'A-poets' Love Well-Deserved!'
This is your 'Nobel', humble and noble, for others to ennoble!
No wonder the early rays are the freshest rays
No less wonder the first dew is the most crystalline in place!
Lakshman Bulusu,
(Piscataway, NJ, USA)
Sir,
I am Sowjanya Tamalapakula, working as an Assistant Professor in English Literature, Silver Jubilee Govt. College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. I have done my M.A and M.Phil in English literature and going to soon submit my Ph.D thesis in the same subject. My area of interest is poetry and African wiring. I have been following Journal of Poets International for the past one year subscribed by EFLU library. I had a few published works I mentioned in my CV apart from the research publications.
Thanking you
Sowjanya Tamalapakula
(Hyderabad, India)
Sir,
I am Josephine Abraham from Bangalore. I cant begin to explain in mere
words how happy I am to find a magazine that publish poems. I have
been sitting at home and wondering where I can have poems published
and whether it is appreciated anymore at all!! I am glad that poems
have not lost their meaning and importance.
I have attached a copy of one of my poems. Hope you like it.
Josephine Abraham.
(Bangalore, India)
Sir,
I received and read the April 2010 issue of POETS INTERNATIONAL and the cover is so beautifully colored. All that red really catches one's eyes.
I was really impressed with young Kanaka Durga. She really has a bright future in front of her and is another of the rising young stars of India. Her poetry is really deep and penetrating. "Survivors tell their tales/Trammeled in the toils of faith,/In these still haunts of wars and blood,/a costly wreck, scenes of peace turned to slaughter." I find it interesting that she mentioned the influence of nursery rhymes as a child's first poetry. The young people I know who latter wrote poetry started with the rhythm and rhyme of those early verses.
Kanaka Durga and Elizabeth C. Paramesh are both beautiful woman and I so admire all the languages they have learned to read and write in.
Also I thought K.S. Subramanian's article WHITER INDIAN ENGISH poetry was excellent. I enjoyed the letters and the other articles.
Some of my favorite poems in his issue were "THERE IS A SEA" by Chen Yi-chih, A SUITE OF OCEAN by Tis Hsiu-chu, JOY OF TEARS by Rupes Rai, BARREN WOMAN by Gulzar. THE SEA AS A MAN by Chen Kun-lun, SHADOWS IN MAY by Dr. Lee Kuei-shien, THE FORGOTTEN EMPIRES by Hadaa Seendoo,
In your short poems, I especially loved your Rubaiyat 313 --" the line --"Self-discipline cleanses soul like sunrise". Your Sonnet (160) was excellent as always. Sadly you truly captured the plight of so many poets with your linens -"A poet is one, who's born to suffer,/Die with out fame, which God choose to confer."
My favorite of your haiku is --
Twinkle in your eye
Gave birth to platonic love
Between you and I.
This is another great issue.
Ruth Wildes Schuler
(Novato, CA USA)
Sir,
Please accept my heartiest thanks and sincere congratulations for having endeavoured in giving altogether a new look and format to your journal. The “Poets International” now in its new avatar has great promises to keep its high standard in the field of poetry, as it has had been following since long.
I am also interested to know if your journal publishes poetry translation from Indian languages too; in that case, I may send to you, from time to time, a couple of my translations from modern Bengali poet/s too, besides my own English poems. I would love to have a reply from you in this regard at your earliest convenience.
Pof. R. L. Bhattacharjee
(Varanasi, India)
Poets International publishes original poems and in translation from any language into English. In case of translation of any particular poem by the contributor, from any language into English, the original author’s approval is a must..
--- Editor
Sir,
I got April issue of “Poets International” in which I read your latest Haiku:
One more plant I found
In rose garden of Haiku;
With fragrance around!
In reality, you have found not one but many more plants in rose garden. The would continue to bloom for years to come.
“Travelling Companions”, by Ruth Wildes Schuler is a fascinating poem in which the experience of a lifetime has been captured. A memorable poem!
Haiku
Indian summer
Men-women roasted alive;
The bela buds bloom.
Dr. N. P. Singh
(New Delhi
Dear Sir,
First of all I would like to congratulate you on giving a new look to the journal, POETS INTERNATIONAL. In its present avatar it looks very colorful and has visibility. It must have taken a lot of effort to revamp it. I wish you all the success. Your passion for poetry is really infectious indeed!.
Mamta Agarwal
(Noida, India)
Sir,
Many thanks for the latest “new look” issue of PI. It looks very splendid with its new colour cover and interesting format.
Best wishes,
Patricia Prime
(Auckland, New Zealand)
Sir,
I was quite happy to go through the changed format and design of Poets International. It has a glossy look with a judicious mix of black and white frame which catches the eye. It speaks for the singular effort you have taken to make it reader-friendly and attention-grabbing. Equally interesting was the space given for interviews with rising poets. I am privileged to be part of “Poets International”.
K.S.Subramanian
(Chennai, India)
Sir,
I love the beautiful new guise of Poets International (print). Surely there is enough good work done, the growth is both physical and spiritual. Congratulations.
Yours sincerely
Prof. N.V. Raveendran
(Kottayam, India)
Sir,
Fakhruddin the ‘Daystar’ of yesterday!
Yes, it is naked truth that once Mohammed Fakhruddin edited “Daystar” magazine from 1969 to 1978, has become Dr. Mohammed Fakhruddin today with many laurels to his credit for his outstanding contribution to the world of English poetry.
His fascinating idea that poetry bridges peace and harmony has crossed oceans and oceans. His unique contributions to the world of poetry are ‘HAIKU’ which has been translated into different world languages including Japanese and Chinese.
Above all, his ‘Sonnets’ are of outstanding poetical work which has acclaimed universal recognition. Many of the foreign universities, professors and learned men have ‘no’ second word to all his poetical talent.
Dr, Saheb is a genius in his knowledge pertaining to English poetry, has unique distinction of getting “ Merit Award of World Poetry Festival, Koahsiung, Taiwan 2005” for his great efforts and communications to promote the communication of poetry worldwide , especially between Taiwan and India.
A. L. Shama Rao
(Bangalore, India)
Sir,
I have received the March month P.I
It is superb! Astonishingly, it is amazing!
When you said P.I shall be in new format, I never expected this. but now its beyond my anticipation and true to world class. It stands as the epitome of your vision.
I applaud your efforts towards reshaping the magazine.
Congratulations!
Rochishmon
(Chennai, India)
Sir,
I have always been impressed by the content of P.I. but the March issue is stunning in exterior also... happy steady growing ...wishing you all the best!
Dr. Falguni Desai
V.S. Patel College of Arts and Science,
(Bilimora, Gujarat)
Sir,
Poets International
January 2010 saw the 27th year of publication of Poets International. The journal was established in 1983. As I have contributed poetry, haiku, tanka, reviews, interviews and articles to Poets International for many issues, the editor Mohammed Fakhruddin has asked me to write a few words about the magazine.
Fakhruddin’s Statement of Intent is published on the cover of the journal:
Poets International gives global representation to literature in the English language through crticial and scholarly studies, original poems and in translation. Particular emphasis is placed on comparative studies. It includes interviews with both established and rising poets, analytical and critical appreciation, new trends and blends in world poetry, and book reviews.
Mohammed Fakhruddin has produced a mix of writers that is immensely satisfying. Literary journals are always in danger of becoming club-houses, but Poetry International’s issues are wide open, not just in view of the selected writers but also in a range of styles and subject matter. Although the majority of contributors come from India, there are poets from New Zealand, Australia, US, Canada, China, Japan and the UK.
Poetry International publishes poetry, haiku, tanka, reviews, interviews, articles and “Poet of the Month”: a feature which includes the poet’s photograph, biographical notes and an interview. A selection of letters in each issue also fosters feedback on poems, reviews and articles.
The Poetry International reviews often move beyond the book under scrutiny to wider arguments and in doing so help establish the journal as a well-melded forum for literary debate. At times the balance favours side-tracking argument ahead of a focus on the book under review, but on other occasions the book itself becomes the centre of attention.
The attempt to give a more general overview of what is happening in contemporary poetry is to be welcomed. Journals such as Poets International thrive on criticism and realignments. If one of the tasks of the editor is to order the poems so they talk to one another as well as to the reader, Poets International is fluent, engaging and interesting. It is the friction between these poems that catches light and becomes a steadier illumination.
This is a bright, readable, communicative journal which seems to have been put together in order to prove what its editor claims in his statement: to encourage the work of both established and rising poets. On the positive side it is good to see worldwide poets being given deserved prominence in an Indian journal. I would suggest that innovation, accessibility, humour, appropriation of the vernacular, political onus and significance, even skilled narrative are some of the criteria for publication in the journal. The journal itself should be welcomed for some good poems, and for bringing to a wider public poets and writers who will last and be enjoyed by the readers.
A web site has been established for Poetry International at www.PoetsInternational.com
Finally, it is to be hoped that Mohammed Fakhruddin’s photographs, which until recently provided a welcome vitality to the journal, will make a return in the new look Poets International.
Patricia Prime
(Auckland, New Zealand)
*
Sir,
POETS INTERNATIONAL
POETS INTERNATIONAL from India has always been one of my favorite literary magazines. It has come out monthly in contrast to many magazines that come out quarterly or semi-annually, therefore it is smaller in size and fits nicely in a purse or even one’s pocket for easy carrying. I preferred always to take it to bed at night and usually read it in one sitting.
The editor is not only excellent in producing a excellent magazine, but a splendid poet himself. I liked the wide spread in the magazine. There are poets from every corner of the world. Besides India, they are from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Great Britain, United States, Portugal, Spain, Russia, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, etc.
Also there has always been a wide spread in the kinds of poetry. Besides free verse, there have been all sorts of traditional poetry: sonnets, haiku, tankas, villanelles, lyrics, ballots and an endless array of types.
Besides all the interesting poetry, this magazine has had interesting interviews with poets, had essays about writers and had book reviews of recent publications in the small press. So much packed within a limited number of pages! I learned so much.
This magazine also brought poets from around the world together. Many of those in its pages were invited to the International Poetry Festival in Taiwan a few years back. I met many of the poets in person there, and I am still communicating with many of them by e-mal. POETS INTERNATIONAL has proved to be a web spreading out to encompass the far corners of the earth and bringing so many poets and readers together.
It is a literary treasure chest!
Ruth Wildes Schuler
(Novato, CA USA)
Sir,
My parents sent me some scanned pages from the March PI journal, and I am highly delighted with the new look of PI. You and PI have come a long way and we all appreciate your incessant enthusiasm and dedication.
Chitra Lele
(Pune, India)
Sir,
This is to acknowledge gratefully the receipt of ‘Poets International’, March 2010.
It looks substantial and ample and abundantly colourful. Congratulations!
I read with great interest the assessment of ‘Little Songs’, by Patricia Prime, Dr. P. Raja, Dr. Rita Nath Keshari and Ruth Wildes Schuler.
Dr. Priyadarshini Roy’s interview made me recall the fond memories of Taiwan’s First World Poetry Festival, at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 2005.
I do hope and pray that the new look and depth of ‘Poets International’ would be maintained.
Dr. Narendra Pratap Singh
B.A. M.A., PG. Dip. (TEFL), PhD; Educationist & Poet,
(New Delhi, India)
Sir,
The new look of POETS INTERNATIONAL is magnificent. I love the photo by you on the cover. It s such a nice one, and the floating lily pads around it are a tremendous background.
The cover stories of your sonnets are great. Patricia Prime, Dr. P. Raja and Dr Rita Nath Kershari are such accomplished writers and did such an excellent job of interpreting your poems. My favorites have always been Numbers 3, 5, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, and 19, and my ultimate favorite is number 8.
I also loved the Mind-Set of Women section. Chitra Lele is a rising star on the Indian poetry scene. As for Dr. Priyadarshini Roy, She is my example of the successful modern Indian woman. Not only is she an accomplished poet, but also I admire her contributions in the field of medicine. She is an all around role model for young Indian woman. I truly appreciated her review of the Poetry Festival in Taiwan. I felt so privileged to meet her there and have admired her so much since that time. She is a woman who walks with both grace and intellect.
I always enjoy the letters. My favorite short poem of yours in this issue for me was --
Bow my head in shame,
When I see children begging;
Know not whom to blame.
It recalls to my mind the scene of children fighting half-starved mage-eaten dogs in garbage piles in the streets of Lima, Peru.
Some of my favorite poems in this issue are Nyeem Ullah Khan’s Tanka. The lines -- “Truth is one: paths are many. /Images in broken mirror” are so original and powerful. M. Nagaraj’s “Book And Mirror” is another powerful poem, and Prabha V. Nair’s “Morning At Lake Hawea’
and Padma Bhaskaran’s “Beyond the Flat Form” also really stand out. The homeless are a problem the world over. In the US, there are often shelters for them, but the homeless are often mentally ill and do not want to be around other people, and with our law, the authorities can’t force them into facilities unless they are a danger to themselves or others.
Your sonnet 163 is excellent as always. Dr. Kazuyosi Ikeda’s sequence is also moving. I remember seeing the cormorants in China. Their throats were tied, so they could not swallow the fish they caught, and the fishermen would remove their catch. It was so cruel. Mamta Agarwal’s “In Silence You Speak” was another special poem along with K.B. Rai’s “India Gate”, and Sunita S.C.’s “Turbulence.” This last catches the grief worldwide of the lonely parents whose children go off to the other side of the world and leave them in loneliness and pain.
This was truly a great issue, which I will always treasure!
Ruth Wildes Schuler
(Novato, CA, USA)
Sir,
The new facelift you have given to ‘Poets International ‘ is really making it an International one. Thank you for the international get-up. More interviews with poets and more book reviews will help us know better about the International poets. Let the interviews be a bit longer.
Dr. P. Raja
(Pondicherry, India)
Sir,
Received a copy of March 2010 issue of “Poets International”. The present layout of the issue is excellent. It appears to me an improvement over the past issues as it can accommodate more poems of the poets thereby giving wider exposure to the contributors. I request you to make it a permanent feature.
I have read yours ‘Sonnets’. These are gems of poetry. Wonderful, Sir.
Dr. K. B. Rai
(New Delhi, India)
Sir,
I received and read the January 2010 issue of POETS INTERNATIONAL. It has more prose than usual. I found the article on "Imagination" and the letters interesting as always. I especially found the "Poet Of The Month" interview with Virendra Gupta fascinating. He made so many interesting points in his answers.
Your questions and the answers by Patricia Prime were also worthy reading.
I felt the most moving poem in this issue was "My Child" by Kanaka Durga. It was extremely well done.
My favorite short poem of yours is --
Fragrance of jasmine,
Make the full moon romantic;
True pearls never shine.
Some of my other favorites in this issue are your Sonnet 148, Hsiu-chu Tsi's "A Suite Of Ocean, "Inhuman Error" by Priyadarshini Roy (this poem is so true), and Shujaat Hussain.
I am looking forward to the new look in future issues.
Ruth Wildes Schuler
(Novato, CA U.S.A.)
Sir,
Sadho poem film festival in Delhi
Last December, I had an opportunity to watch Sadho poem film festival in Delhi. It was quite an exhilarating experience. A unique approach to what film, poetry and poetry film festival is or can be.
Sadho is a voluntary organization that aims to take great poetry to people from all walks of life through the innovative use of arts, media and social action. Sadho, which literally means ‘O sage’, is the familiar addressee in the poetry of Kabir.
Films were based on poems from all over the world, the themes interesting and varied. One film ‘Chail’ was based on a poem by 13year old boy from Delhi. The film was also made by him with
the help of his father ( Chail is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh) The boy explained the thought and inspiration behind the poem.
I was quite enchanted by films inspired by the Haiku of Issa, Kikaku and Buson, from the series- The films were ‘Ruminations on a hollow cylinder’ and, ‘Sit like an Old Buddha’.
Some of the Haiku on which films were
O Great Buddha
Your lap must be filling with
Those flowers of snow
This cold winter night
That old wooden-head Buddha
Would make a nice fire
I have no clue whether the great masters used punctuation.
The visuals accompanying the text were breathtaking
The film was made by Nandan Saxena and Kavita Behl.
Another film was based on a poem by late Nissim Ezekiel, titled ‘Irani Café’.
Poems of some contemporary writers from over 23 countries were also really beautiful and touching. The poems came out alive with recitation and visuals on screen.
The hall was jam packed. Many people stood, or sat on the steps of the auditorium. It was a festival for two days of three hours duration. In spite of the fact that it was a chilly evening in mid December, poetry lovers ventured out and were not disappointed.
Most films were of about 1-5 minutes duration.
Warm Regards
Mamta agarwal
(Noida, India)
Sir,
That's wonderful news. I will certainly give you my ideas.
For a start I think you can include articles on creative thinking that encourages paradigm shifts and out of the box thinking along with poetry and poetics. Just like magic squares there can be word mapping. For instance you can give select words that are jumbled and ask the writers to make a poem out of them using those words only.
I will share more ideas as I hit upon them.
Thank you
I'm looking forward to the new avatar of poets International journal.
Regards
Ajay Seshadri
(Chennai, India)
Sir,
Believe me, I have always been impressed by your obvious dedication to the journal and have seen the changes you have made gradually in it's format by allowing some of the poets to even sponsor the journal in some months. I know that whatever changes you bring about will be for the best. If at all I have a suggestion to make I know that I can so at any time. Wishing you all the best in the new venture even though I know for a certainty that it'll be a roaring success!
Prabha Nair.
(Mumbai, India)
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