Vihang A. Naik throws light on the life of a city in all its shades, glory and misery in his City Times and Other Poems. It is an anthology of his intuitive and philosophical poems. The Poems are divided in 6 segmentsi.e. 'Love Song of a Journey Man' is more or less an inner travelogue, The segments, for instance, 'Mirrored Man' is about the other chimeras in the city .The people in the city are capricious like the walk of a crab or the colours of a chameleon. While, ‘The Path of Wisdom' is about the beginning of meditation and knowledge. 'At the Shore' records the poet's sense of futility, memory, pain, exile and alienation at the shore of life. The title of this collection is also the heading for the last of its six sections, in which the city is unfolded as a market place, as a heaven for underdogs, and as a seed bed of change and is observed at evening, at mid-night, by moon light and through fog and haze.
The poem titled 'Self Portrait' starts with the diagrammatic sketch with 7 blank pages where the reader finds only 3 words at the tail-end of the page...Here "the poet envisions in an epiphanic moment, the true nature of ones self when he wakes up, 'to see my / Self ' 'discovered beyond thought' . Between 'my self' and 'discovered beyond thought' are five blank pages. The ineffable epiphany of ambiguous. It may either suggest the discovery of a transcendental Self beyond all thought and language or it may suggest the discovery of an Absence beyond the human thought and speech.
" is a delightful selection of delectable poems written in free verse."
“A collection well grounded not in observational emotion, but in reflection.”
"CITY TIMES appears to be only a short book but there are worlds of images and feeling inside, created by a gifted poet with a deft turn of phrase."
“Aiming toward philosophical, even existential concerns, these light-fingered lyrics leave too much unsaid.”
"Overall, I do intend to use his poems, especially “Midnight City,” as inspiration and as a reminder that, while it may take a few readings to get the flow and the meaning, Naik’s poetry is meaningful"
“highly recommended works for any poetry reader seeking a more philosophical, observational style and flavor than most modern poets would impart.”
“Reading City Times and Other Poems is a heady and illuminating experience. It’s most highly recommended.”
"Vihang Naik’s poetry, City Times and Other Poems, is a gift for anyone to ponder and enjoy."
“Vihang A. Naik is a master of his craft and City Times and Other Poems, along with his other works are must-reads”
"Vihang A. Naik throws light on the life of a city in all its shades, glory and misery in his City Times and Other Poems. It is an anthology of his intuitive and philosophical poems."
City Times and Other Poems declard first poetrty collecion to have " 5 blank pages in the 7-page poem titled Self Portrait, the opening line being “I wake up to see myself…” and the last line “…discovered beyond thought” at the very end of the seventh page. It is an intentional attempt by the poet to make the reader think and then pen down his/ her thoughts and views."
Insightful and unforgettable, 'City Times and Other Poems' ...
Noted Indian poet Vihang A. Naik's republished anthology "City Times and Other Poems" has been receiving rave reviews from critics and the book lovers across the country and overseas. It is an anthology of Naik's intuitive and philosophical poems.
These poems, in their entirety, are immersive, fascinating and most of all, they are true.
“City Times and Other Poems” captures stories of a poet caught up in the swirl of changing times, the ups and downs of human experience and the quest for self-discovery...
