Reviewed by Ambria Clark
“There is a beauty in defending the ego
Attributing assumptions and coagulations of sorts
Like a gush of emotion unexplained, changed and
Converted into justifications by this wondrous brain leading to
Denials of all sorts so that this ego—floating at times or submerged
like the Axis Mundi conquering midst the known and unknown.”
-“Defence Mechanisms”
Embark on a journey through Srijani Mitra’s culture, psyche, and lived experiences in her collection of poems titled Mantras of the Moon. While reading, you will experience a variety of emotions ranging from love, anger, nostalgia, and more. Have you ever watched a rom-com and dreamed of experiencing the love they do? If so, “After watching a romantic web series” is the poem for you. What about the heartbreak of looking through old memories in “Frames”? In between these complex feelings, you can learn about other cultures mermaid myths in “Mermaid myths—Reconstructed.” Srijani Mitra’s collection of poetry allows readers to experience emotions from another perspective and culture. She blends aspects of Indian culture within her works to illustrate how her culture shaped her experience. Even if you’re unfamiliar with Indian culture, once you learn it through her eyes, you can experience Mitra’s poems from her perspective, allowing you to feel entirely new emotions while reading.
Srijani Mitra is a writer based in India with published works in It Gets Better USA, Dhaka Tribune, and Mermaids Monthly USA. Like her other published works, in Mantras of the Moon, you’ll find deeply reflective poems relating to culture, revelations, and self-reflection—almost like you’re growing alongside the narrator on their journey. These confessional poems allow us to relate to the feelings described despite having cultural differences. Even if you’ve never been to Murshidabad, sat on a ghat looking out at the sea, or eaten Kochuri, you’re connected to these experiences through emotions. When reading through the poems, research the places and see what you can learn about Mitra’s culture. Then, go back and read the poem again. Do you find that you relate to it more? Can you feel the emotions more? Give an hour of your time to these poems so you can learn and discover something new about yourself.
Mantras of the Moon blends art and psychology to create a beautiful overview of many shared human experiences. Immediately, Mitra takes us to the Haridwar Ghat, specifically the most famous one, Har Ki Pauri. In “At the Haridwar Ghat,” our narrator is celebrating Dussehra, “the day of burning evil.” In this poem, you’ll sit beside the narrator on the Ganges and celebrate with her. You’ll feel the hope that comes from the burning fires in the distance and the revelation brought about through her time spent at the sea. In “Monsoon of Memories,” you’ll feel the raw emotions of the speaker as your own. She begins, “Between the echo of receding past/ and / The plunging plasma of current / is.” A lovely introduction to the wave of sentiments about memories that carries us to the end. Along the way, we reflect on our own anger, sadness, love, and happiness. Each moment, each memory, we visit alongside the narrator. If you want to experience peace, visit Amritsar with the narrator in “Amritsar—safar.” This poem is for everyone who has reclaimed themselves in a city. Someone who has wholeheartedly given themselves over to the history of a city and found a peace that soothes their “Hiraeth”—homesickness. Here, you can experience that rush of nostalgia again. Each poem has unique wisdom to offer. You won’t walk away from a poem without learning a lesson or learning more about yourself.
Mantras of the Moon is a book you won’t want to put down. The raw emotions and sophistication become addicting, enticing you to continue reading even when you’ve finished. Srijani Mitra took every human emotion and carefully crafted them into poems woven with sophisticated contemplations and analysis. These poems analyze how culture shapes our emotions and experiences. If you’re unfamiliar with cultures other than your own, this collection forces you to become comfortable with that unfamiliarity. Not only will you experience the narrator’s rush of emotions, but you also learn about Indian culture, cities, and landmarks at the same time! Once you learn about these places and read the poems again, you gain a new perspective. Mitra’s poems are unique to her genre for this reason. Mitra marries psychology to present readers with a radiant, yet affable, epiphany in each poem. She isn’t afraid to explore the complexities of her psyche, which allows us to do the same. With each read, you learn, take, and experience something new.
*The publisher of Mantras of the Moon (Red Rook Press) and Call Me [Brackets] are both affiliated with the University of Alabama Department of English