Runcible Spoons and Peagreen Boats: My Father’s Last Letter to Me and Other Poems Paperback

Runcible Spoons and Peagreen Boats, My father’s Last Letter To Me and other poems, is a poetry book by Dr. Santosh Bakaya that takes one down the memory lane where the readers can find themselves reflecting into the bygone era of poets childhood. The book is autobiographical in nature but as the readers go through the poems they can see a part of their childhood too through the poets' pen.The title of the book is indeed very interesting. Runcible spoons and Peagreen Boats! I too was piqued to know what it meant. Dr. Santosh Bakaya very candidly brings forth her conversation with her father in the author’s note where we learn that it is a nonsense word invented by Edward Lear. However, the author has dexterously used the word in her poetry and given it the much-needed approval by making it the title of her book.The cover adds to the nostalgia the book renders. It has a border of the pictures from the envelope with her father’s writing scribbled on it. With the address of the sender and the stamp on the envelope, the cover transports us to the era when there was no electronic communication. Indeed, the cover in itself reflects the daughters' sentiments towards her father who has preserved the letters and made her father’s handwriting eternal by placing it in her book.Published by AuthorsPress, the book is a compilation of 41 poems coming straight from Dr. Bakaya’s heart. The book has been divided into four sections Footfalls, Granny, Dad and Mummy. It takes us down the memory lane where there is A Pleasing Serenity, The toothless Grin of the granny, where there’s Dad’s Rockery and Those Smells of mummy! The poet has beautifully captured the essence of memories and longings not only through the poem but also through the thoughtful titles.The tone of the poems is lyrical, interspersed with dialogues lending a dramatic touch oft and on. As we read the poems the book literally spills out stories from the poets' childhood.“No, my dad is not old, he is just prematurely grey.”…Ah, how it pained, and to dad I complained.“I feel bad, when they call you old, dad.How can you be old?”“Oh common child, don’t be riled.Age is just a number, pedal away I am here.”A heartwarming conversation between father and child as he gives a push to her cycle. Such relatable thoughts and moments for any child who would hate to hear their father being tagged as an old man. And a loving father assuring her that age is just a number. Haven’t we all been through this phase with our parents?The lyrics in the poems are characterized by the intensity of passionate longing and simplicity. The distinctive feature of Dr. Santosh Bakaya writing is the use of imagery drawn from the most varied and heterogeneous sources.While down below, the Jhelum quietly flowedAnd the wind lisped happy songs in the willow.The wind in the neem tree in Jaipur, also sang songs,And the birds also tweeted joyous greetings.From the sun dabbled lawns in The Black Beauty to the jostling Bapu Bazaar in Jaipur.Talking about khewa, ksheer chai, kangri and pheran in Kashmir, and Squinting, as the sunbeams canoodled with the trees. The poet with the agile use of words transports the readers from the present moment to the lands of the yore suffused with nostalgia.Your trouser legs safely pinned up,Hat hilted to one side,The sunrays playing with your salt and pepper hair.I saw you once again, yesterday night.Words are enough for Dr. Bakaya to conjure up an image of a place or a person.A book that is soaked with nostalgia I just could not help noticing the time described in different hues by the poeta in various poems.‘The happy happy times!’‘The time was blithe.’‘When the time was a handsome horse going clipty-clopGalloping at a canter, unwilling to stop.’‘Time curls its lips in arrogance.’ The intensity of homesickness and longing for the bygone era is strengthened as time moves on in each poem. The reference to the time does show how the poeta reminiscences and preserves each moment as a timeless treasure. The poet also brings about emotions in all her simplicity.I suddenly felt cold, and headed towards my mom’s room.I knew it was warm there.These beautiful lines from Unchanging Changes, certainly steal my heart and show the depth of love and affection between the mother and child.The poet fondly remembers in Granny of the Red Roses, the meeting of her grandparents. How she had preserved her fond memories. The poeta ponders…Did she blush?Did his hands brush her cheeks fleetingly?Did she gush a thousand little words of gratitude as the Blue Whistling Thrush sang and sang?Is she still wooing her with red roses up there- his first and last crush? The poem transports the readers to a dreamland to ponder on the romance that could have occured between two beautiful souls.Dr. Santosh Bakaya, a poet with wit, humour exudes like a fountain in her poetry. A naughty, chirpy child surfaces as we flip through the pages, blatantly termed as leprechaun by her father. The writing style of Dr. Santosh Bakaya is such that even a sad poem will leave the readers with a smile on their lips. All elements have been fused together to bring out the profound love for family. Each word in the book starting from the dedication to the epilogue comes from the depth of her heart. The poet has beautifully penned down each word and has brilliantly immortalized the love for her family.Shristee SinghAssociate EditorChrysanthemum Chronicles

Right from the title, 'Runcible Spoons and Peagreen Boats' evokes nostalgia. Dr Bakaya takes us to visit her memories through the four parts Footfalls, Granny, Dads and Mummy.All through the poems are the trees, rivers, places and characters from her life. The reader even meets Dr Bakaya herself (although a pigtailed version) in the poem 'That is me' .The joy of reading her poems lies in the simplicity, the wonderful stories and the delightful rhyming.Here's wishing that she continues to enthrall us with her poetry and stories for years.

Each poem in this book is a chunk of the poet' s heart.It is as if the poet is talking to you and all the scenes mentioned unspool before your eyes.The cover , fringed with the poet' s father' s handwriting is so innovatively creative .A must read for every lover of good , evocative poetry.

Just finished reading this book ,and I am yet to get over its aura .Every poem intrigues and forces you to read it again and again .I have seen poets sermonising and indulging in a lot of verbosity , but her poems have a simple elegance and you want to keep on reading them .I really loved her poems on her granny - sad and happy poems .I close my eyes and see her dad bending over his rockery , deweeding it , I can almost hear the ripple of her mother's laughter from her neighbourhood .Loved the cover, loved the title , loved the book !Short and sweet.Thanks a ton, madam for another great literary offering .

Every poem in this collection is a piece from the poet's heart. Drenched in nostalgia, every word resonates with the reader. With a rare dexterity, the poet weaves poem after poem about her childhood, parents , grandmother and the pet dog .Her narrative style with dashes of humour enchants the reader from the very first poem.Many a poem on the poet's parents brought tears to my eyes.She has a way with words, and that way , sometimes wrenches the heart, and sometimes brings a smile to the readers ' lips .The epilogue ,Pleasing Serenades is a piece of beautiful literature .A book which you would love to have on the nightstand, so that you could stretch a hand, flip the pages ...and smile , laugh ,think and introspect with the poet.Santosh Bakaya is indeed one of the best contemporary writers of the country .I have read all her books and am amazed at her effortless way with words.A book to be cherished by every poetry lover.

The first thing that attracts the reader is the title of the book and then the minimalistically designed cover.Such an enchanting cover , with scribbles from her father' s handwriting on the margin .One has no option but to go for itSuch heart warming poems . Funny too.As a student one learns a lot from her usage of words .Her communication skills classes used to be such a pleasure, hope they are revived soon .The poems on her granny who lived in her own world of make believe brought smiles to my eyes .Even her sad poems leave you with a smile .Dr. Santosh Bakaya is a writer we always look forward to reading .Her narrative style , her witty lines ( witticism is part of her very persona ) and I am proud to say I have been her student .It appears that every poem has erupted from the heart not from the head.It is as if the poet is talking to you , narrating interesting incidents from her life .How I wish I could write like her .As a student,I know how good she is , and hence really want her works read, so that aspiring youngsters learn a thing or two .Every time I read her books, my vocabulary increases remarkably .Great read!Unputdownable .