Amaranthine is an anthology of over 40+ poems written by Anupam Patra.

The word Amaranthine denotes ‘undying, unfading’ as well as ‘a pink/rosy red colour’. As one holds the book, it is hard to miss how beautifully the connotation of the book’s title has been reflected in the cover page.

It seems this is Anupam’s first book of poems. Yet, he has approached the complexities of human attachment with abundant grace and sensitivity. His poems speak to you from a world of bygones. The verses almost read like craving filled sighs that echo long after the last line. These are poems of profound experiences and insurmountable decrees of destiny.

The title poem ‘Amaranthine’ is a metaphor for a woman’s undying love and kindness for the narrator who finds solace under her tender influence. A seeker of true love risks confronting emptiness but a ravishing beauty’s presence is enough to revive any barren heart. Here are the lines from the poem which moved me deeply.

“I love you for amaranthine is your loveliness

Your arms retreat for my slowing self

But I love you the most,

When you kneel with kindness,

And touch my barren soul’s emptiness.”

The anthology navigates through several themes that connect us with our past where we encountered uncertainties, accosted love…and in return got memories that still haunt those unspeakable rationales.

Loves, loss, and nostalgia are the dominant themes of Amaranthine. But as one turns the pages, the book presents a spectrum of feelings related to longing, union, memories, separation, death, loss, and faith. Its verses are tender, accessible, relatable, and approachable – its echoes seem to carry sentiments of human bonds since the dawn of time. Undeniably, these poems are bound to take one on a serene journey of love, loss, and nostalgia. Anupam is a promising voice who speaks from the depths of yearnings. This book is like taking a stroll through the timeline of memories and exploring the depths of emotions of the poet’s world. His ability to capture the essence of fabrics of moments amidst chaos of life is fabulous. Simple, evocative, and yet a wonderfully rich source of poetry!