Early Mourning (AIFEST International, #1)

Early Mourning, the debut poetry collection by Anju Mariya - one of the most promising young litterateurs from South India - is a poetic testament to the transformative power of words in the face of life's harshest adversities. In this anthology, Mariya's poetic voice emerges as a gentle yet resonant melody, crafting verses that bridge the chasm between the personal and the universal, the realistic and the imaginary. Themes ranging from loss and memory to love and resilience, weave together a collection that transcends the ordinary and touches the very essence of the human soul.
The poems in the collection are a lamentation of the misfortunes, disappointments, and sorrows of life. When new chapters unfolds in life, nobody knows what lies ahead or what to endure next. The wreckage and the heartbreak is an undeniable fate. Sometimes we have to rummage through the ruins of our minds and hearts. But there is always hope. If we can accept the heartache of the upcoming days, we can surely dream about tomorrow's sky.
These verses offer solace to those who have known the pain of loss, reminding us that in the darkest hours, the magic of words can illuminate the profoundest grief. Each poem in this collection is a fragment of the human soul, illuminated with lyrical finesse and profound introspection. This volume offers experiences that will linger long after the last page is turned, leading to the realization that mourning, like poetry itself, is a means to transcend life's darkest moments. Early Mourning is more than a collection of poems; it is a lyrical journey into the heart of the human experience.

Anju Mariya Babu V is a postgraduate in English Literature from Irinjalakuda in the state of Kerala, India. A passionate seeker of literature, Anju has completed her MA from Christ College Irinjalakuda and her BA from St Joseph's College, Irinjalakuda. To her, poetry is the medium to outpour her innermost feelings and thoughts for, she believes in the magical power of words. She started writing poems in her early twenties. When she experienced unexpected twists and turns in her life, overwhelmed by the tragic outflows, she started to pen down her sorrows and began to express her thoughts and feelings in and through poetry. Thus, she rendered her bleak life experiences into words. In Early Mourning, she attempts to unravel the raw emotions and experiences of life. About this volume, she says, "These are the poems / From the days of yore. / Before it could get settled / I collected them / And rendered into words".