The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Dear Sad Friend’ by Ruby. In her Q&A responses she reveals that she began writing poetry around the age of 12, and although she calls herself quiet and introverted, has performed her poetry – with limbs trembling - at an open mic event organised in her college, and has also attended an open-mic event at a cafe in Shillong, in north-east India. She adds: “I have always found respite in writing!”  

 

What initially got you into writing poetry?

I was in my third grade when I started scribbling and phrasing little words. I found it quite amusing in a way that I would re-read my writing and be happy with it. I started writing, as for real poetry, when I was 12 years old. I used to write poems in English and Bengali (an Indian language) too. My childhood had been spent most of the time staying indoors. Being an introverted kind, I strictly avoided social situations. Sometimes I feel that I could feel any emotion, be it my own or others in a deeper scale. And most of my poems are all attached to what I had seen in life and felt in me or others.

 

How long have you been writing?

I had been writing since seven years, as I had told. I started writing poems when I was 12. I used to write short stories when I was in my 11th grade. I have always found respite in writing!

 

Have you ever performed your poetry at open-mic nights?

I am a quiet, introverted girl and again that I would be quoting “I strictly avoided social situations”. But I had my start participating in an open-mic event in my own college organised by ‘Wanderlust’, a group of our college students who do shows like chat shows, plays and all. I was nervous as usual (whenever I face an audience). I performed ‘Dear Mama’. I remember how I felt vividly my knees trembling and I felt lucky that my voice didn’t show tremor after I finished. And quite a few months back I attended an open-mic night at Dylan’s Café in Shillong (India). I chose to go as an attempt to erase the fear that I had while performing in public.

 

Who/what is your favourite poet or poem?

I don’t really have something to be called favourite. But Margaret Atwood is one of my favourites. I haven’t read much of Lang Leav but I do like her writings. And I love much of the poetry on Write Out Loud.  I would love to thank the poets who had complimented my writings since I started writing here.

 

 

DEAR SAD FRIEND

by Ruby

 

What had betided you?

Your orbs so dark

And lucent in gleaming liquid –

Once that it had met people’s eyes,

The other second that had drifted

To invisibility.

Mistakenly bumped into each other

The next moment I flipped my hair

To catch sight of you;

Your footsteps fled apace

Out of sight.

I followed you to behold your face:

Abraded in unknown agony

That scars all over you

“What had betided you?”

You’ve got a dear friend here!