Ariadne’s note: We are very proud to present a talented poet and photographer who has shared her art with World Poetry over the last few years! This is a beautiful poem that shows the need to appreciate our winged sisters and brothers. Thank you Mamta! Amazing news! www.worldpoetry.ca reached 2,541 visitors on Sunday, October 7-the most ever! Thank you Yaman!
Mamta Agarwal was born in India, at Saharanpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh. She studied English Literature for Masters Program at Punjab University, Chandigarh. Subsequently, she taught in Govt. College for Women and MCM DAV College for Women from 1972-74. Later, she joined a publishing house in New Delhi, as an Associate editor. After a few years took up free-lance writing, and contributes articles and poems in magazines and journals for the last 25 years. Her diverse interests, in art, architecture, history led her to pursue a course conducted by Govt. of India, Department of Tourism. She worked as a cultural ambassador for two years from 1980- 82. Subsequently, on moving to New Delhi, she taught ‘Travel and Tourism’ at International Polytechnic, New Delhi for two academic sessions and went on to publish a book on Tourism and Hotel Management.
In 1987, she decided she wanted to work with children and enrolled for B. Ed. Later instead of joining a mainstream school, she chose to join an experimental school, in New Delhi, run on Shri Aurobindo and Mother’s teachings and again did a teacher’s training course.
She has written a book on essays on Contemporary issues. Her first anthology of poems titled ‘Rhythms of Life’ was published in 2008. Her second book, titled ‘Voices of autumn and other short poems’ came out in August 2010.’ An anthology of Contemporary women poets from India’, published by Roots and Wings, selected 10 of her poems for the anthology. It was released in September, 2011. Her poetry has been published in major journals in India, Rock Pebbles, Contemporary Vibes, Poets International, SAARC Journal of Literature, Delhi Poetries’, Web sites like poemhunter.com, Poet freak. Com, Voices.com, Allpoetry.com, museindia.com, Boloji.com. International web journal, Enchanting Verses, Print Journal, Albatross,, Magazine of the Constanza Haiku Society, Romania
She has been invited to recite and share poems at poetry forums Indian Poetry Society, and International poetry festivals held in Delhi, in the Embassy of Portugal, World Poetry, Canada and Italy in collaboration with Delhi University.
A member of FOSWAL- FOUNDATION OF SAARC WRITERS AND LITERATURE
Executive Member – Indian society of Authors
Member, Universal Poetry
Her name is included in Who’s who of Sahitya Akademi
Some of her poems have been translated in Hindi, Urdu and Romanian languages.
She has read research papers at seminars organized by Indian Society of Authors.
She has shared her poetry at SAARC FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE.
She writes in English and Hindi.
Her poem ‘In the deep recesses of my heart’ was selected for display at World Peace Poetry, Canada, May 2012. One of her photographs won an award at World Peace Poetry, 2012
Two poems were selected for the event Peace Rain Poetry at Nicosia, Cyprus, May 2012 A poem titled ‘Long last Indian summer comes to an end’ was selected in a competition and included in the anthology ‘Mind and Heart’ by Forward Poetry UK IN 2011.
Spare just a moment
Spare just a moment
Spare just a moment for the birds,
Dreams they awaken as they chirp,
Flap their wings, soar and soak us in mirth
Do sorties in the sky, stirring hope in our soul.
Spare just a moment for the crane
Who flies from bleak winter of Siberia,
In search of warmth, food, wet lands
And green fields, instead only finds silt.
Spare just a moment for the geese,
Who uncertainly hover in the sky;
A cloud squinting seemed to ask why
Alone, where is your flock, why do you cry.
Spare just a moment for bulbul,
Bleary as it alights on concrete ledge-
Vacant eyes, on the edge, seems to brood,
Whatever happened to Neem and Babool.
Spare just a moment for baya weaver
Who adapts to urban life,
And builds a nest on a clothesline;
Babies’ die, cries drowned in melee of sounds.
Spare just a moment for the bird of paradise
Its majestic courtship dance full of splendour;
Feathers plucked, and sold at a lofty price,
Just to adorn the walls and hats of elite.
Spare just a moment for an albatross
Who devotes all its life to its mate,
Feels lost when it’s gone, throbs with ache,
Wonders how come only hunters lie in wait.
Spare just a moment for an Arctic tern,
Up in air, hit by jagged metal wings,
Falls in some murky far off field,
Sighs, not a friend by its side as it dies.
Spare just a moment for all our avian friends
On endangered list, on the brink and edge
Of becoming, in times to come, extinct
Can you bear to be awakened by the wails of spring?
Scientists estimate that there are about 300 billion individual birds in the world- that’s 50 birds for every person on the planet.
Mamta Agarwal (C)
26.08.2012
