Penning poetry for a cause

All proceeds from sale of the book will be donated to Khaana Chahiye till May 23. Pic courtesy/@khaanachahiye on Instagram

The challenges that have emerged in the wake of the second wave have also fuelled a renewed desire among many to help out in every possible way. Those who recognised that working on the frontlines may not be an option have come up with ways to contribute to relief programmes, many with their creative talents. While making money from poetry is not easy in these times, writer, Sahej Marwah, argues that this is the least she could do to support those fighting the good fight. Marwah's new poetry ebook, Amidships, is a collection of 16 poems that were written and compiled during the pandemic, and proceeds from the sale will be donated to citizen's movement Khaana Chahiye till May 23.

Sahej Marwah

While being cooped up at home through 2020, Marwah found solace in writing - about life in the pandemic, the discord between her and the outside world, and exploring the feelings of changing and unchanging throughout. "Writing right now is difficult; people don't usually want to think of happy things during a pandemic. With Amidships I'm exploring the idea of flux versus fixture; it means being in the middle of things because that's where we all are right now, we're not living in a pre-pandemic world and most definitely not a post-pandemic one so for the longest time I think we're going to find ourselves somewhere in the middle," reveals the 24-year-old. When it comes to making money, Marwah acknowledges her privilege. "Whatever money I'd make off this art would not change my life radically. That's not the need of the hour. For people who are not in a similar position, every penny matters," she maintains. And for poetry lovers, the book will find a way to keep you grounded - much-needed balance in these times.

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Cost: Rs 199