Hello, beautiful readers! Today, I'd like to share you with a wonderful poet, Balroop Singh. She is a member of the Rave Reviews Book Club (#RRBC). Here is more about her from her author bio:
Balroop Singh is a
former teacher and an educationalist and has always had a passion for writing.
She is a poet, a creative non-fiction writer, a relaxed blogger and a
doting grandma. She writes about people, emotions and relationships. Her poetry highlights the fact that happiness is not
a destination but a chasm to bury agony, anguish, grief, distress and move on!
No sea of solitude is so deep that it can drown us. Sometimes aspirations are
trampled upon, the boulders of exploitation and discrimination may block your
path but those who tread on undeterred are always successful.
When
turbulences hit, when shadows of life darken, when they come like unseen
robbers, with muffled exterior, when they threaten to shatter your dreams, it
is better to break free rather than get sucked by the vortex of emotions. She has always
found poetry a more suitable genre of expression as it flows spontaneously and
smoothly. Just a metaphor can evoke emotions that can’t be described in a
thousand words. Poetry touches our deepest cords; develops perceptions and
liberates us from the mundane. Due to its ambiguous nature, it can be
interpreted in more than one way, depending on how the reader discerns the
thoughts.
Balroop Singh has
always lived through her heart. She is a great nature lover; she loves to watch
birds flying home. The sunsets allure her with their varied hues that they lend
to the sky. She can spend endless hours listening to the rustling leaves and
the sound of waterfalls. The moonlight streaming through her garden, the
flowers, the meadows, the butterflies cast a spell on her. She lives in San
Ramon, California.
Her bio makes me want to visit her and spend time with her amid her surroundings. So, let's read some of her beautiful poetry.
OASIS OF PEACE
Blooming blossoms, whispering wind
Carried me far into the haven of peace
Solitude softly spoke in serene tone,
We welcome weary travelers alone
Divesting dirty robes of dissent
We revel in the glorious sun
You too can embrace this light
Just follow it with smiling delight
The light that enlightens the mind
The light that permeates all around
Adds new dimension to thoughts
Guides us out of those knobby knots
Illumines those innate virtues
When we try to shake them off
In annoyance, in rage, in resentment
Leisurely hours are wistfully spent
Rejoicing in the new found glee
We sat and shared upon His knee
Palpable peace pervaded all around
Into which all dismay drowned.
© Balroop Singh
Revelation
The ink dried on the pages
You left at my desk
Words glare at me
And echo your thoughts…
All that you didn’t say!
Did you say you love me?
How could my arms oppress you?
Was your soft tone a show off?
The sea of your eyes
A delusion?
The ghosts of your journal
Follow me unawares
The embers of your love
Still smolder within me
Smothering my breath out
I carry dead demons of your memory
Looking for a place to bury them.
© Balroop Singh
When Love Whispers
We walked those woods
A thousand times
The silence; the symphonies
The shadows; the light
Lingering in the aura of love
Velvety sky watches
Stars shine brighter
With our whispers
Our love deeper than woods
Paces through night
Swaying with the breeze
Stilling my heart, singing lullabies.
© Balroop Singh
RESPECT YOURSELF
Self-esteem is not
given; it is earned; it is cultivated and it is snatched when others try to
smash it. I have faced the worst of criticism and ridicule for being too thin
and tall, for failing in Math, for writing beautifully and neatly but incapable
of completing a given test within the specified time, for keeping aloof and
being arrogant. The list is very lengthy but the reality is that my self-esteem
could never get shattered with the insensitivity around me because I knew those
were hollow observations of jealous people. I knew I am enough!
People around me could never hurt my self-esteem, not because I was
never in such a situation but because I never let them! Even as a child when I
was asked to apologize for no fault of mine, to please somebody’s ego, I
refused. I knew I would be punished but I didn’t care!
My
mirror has never told me that I am not the best or I can’t excel. I always knew
I am much better than many. Criticism of others affects me in a
positive manner. I try to introspect and dismiss the judgment of others as
their opinion. I try to work on my imperfections in such a manner that enhances
my self-esteem.
What lowers self-esteem?
·
Negative home environment
·
Broken families
·
Bullying
·
Insensitive friends
·
Shaming by a parent or a teacher
·
Self-blaming
·
Intimidating or controlling partner
·
Demanding boss
·
Dwelling on your weaknesses
What can help?
Positivity: Read positive quotes, think positive thoughts, spend more time in
the company of positive-minded people. Walk away from those who don’t respect
your opinion. Try to understand that there is no age for personality
enhancement and your growth and development is an ongoing process. Have faith
in yourself and your capabilities. Don’t compare yourself to your friends or
colleagues. Stop blaming yourself just because others try to shift their
responsibility.
Face your fears: If you let your fears hibernate, if you don’t discuss them even
with yourself, they could shrink your heart, wound your spirit and keep consuming
the remnants of your mettle to fight them. Let those alligators out of your
mind. Discuss them with a confidant or a therapist. Learn to accept the fear of
failure because only when we fail do we rise with renewed zeal and energy.
Forgive yourself: Forgiveness is that virtue, which sets us free and acquaints us
with the finest emotions. It unshackles the chains of guilt that we weave
around us. It soothes our mind. We can emerge out of those dark corridors of
fears and insecurities that people around us pushed into. We can see ourselves
in a new light. Self-forgiveness, even if we may be guilty of hurting others,
is of utmost importance to build our self-esteem.
Quit self-criticism: Self-judgment is more detrimental than the nasty remarks of
others. It makes us doubt our own intentions, it ruins our confidence, it pulls
us back into the dumps of depression and lowers our self-esteem. Self-reflection is good as far
as it encourages us to work on our weaknesses. It is better to train your mind
to think positive, to remember that those who attack our self-esteem are
actually dealing with their own insecurities.
Take pride in pursuing activities you love: Invest in yourself. Search within.
Spend time with yourself and indulge in those activities that you enjoy. Stop
pleasing people around you. Be proud of yourself and your little
accomplishments. Self-love is not being selfish, it is being kind to yourself.
Don’t allow anybody to disrespect what you like to do. Count
your strengths and your blessings. Be yourself. The best freedom is being you.
© Balroop Singh
As you can see, Balroop Singh writes beautifully and has so much to share with everyone. If any of this has peaked your interest in her works, you can connect with her here:
Thanks for joining me today for this author spotlight! Feel free to share your comments below. I'm sure Balroop would love to hear from you. :-)
