Member in Spotlight: Seema
Member-in-spotlight is a monthly phenomenon to commemorate a p4poetry member for posting quality poems, commenting and rating regularly, maintaining net etiquette, actively participating in contests , forwarding suggestions and in general for keeping up the passion for poetry!
Seema is selected for the February 2009 spotlight. Click here to visit her profile and all of her poems.
What Seema had to say about herself:
Am a Chartered Accountant. Practice as a Management Consultant. Enjoy
my work immensely. Had a beautiful start to married life as we both
got a lucky break in international CA firms and lived and worked in
Fiji Islands for four years.
The picturisque beauty, simple and enjoyable way of life and the
interaction with people from different nations and cultures made an
enriching and unforgettable contribution to one’s outlook to life.
Believe in living each day to the fullest and accept with grace what
each day brings for me. Enjoy travelling, reading, music, cooking,
gardening and last but not the least….Poetry!
How long have you been writing? When did you write your 1st poem?
Which one was your 1st poem?
I started writing very recently. End November ‘08, to be precise. Just
after the Mumbai Attacks. The Mumbai attacks evoked in me a desire to
write some thing, express emotions and anguish and reach out to
people. Thats when I wrote my first poem… three poems together in
fact, as a tribute to those who directly suffered in the Mumbai
attacks.
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No particular style at all.. just words woven together forming
patterns of thoughts, reflecting emotions and perceptions….but for
me rhyme and flow is very important when I write…
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What do you think is the relevance of poetry in today’s world?
I think unfortunately, inspite of all the poems we read in school and
really enjoyed reciting…Poetry has not received the credit it
warrants, in our adult life. Speaking for myself, I have actually
never read poetry after leaving school.
News papers too surprisingly shun poetry and refuse to print them
whilst devoting significant space to Page 3 events and Bollywood
gossip.. maybe because that what really sells and not poetry.
However I think its really a worthwhile to take up and wake up people
and show them the beauty and strength that poetry portrays and
conveys.
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What is the force of poetry in your life? Why do you write?
Poetry in my life is a very recent phenomena and as of now is a strong
passion, an endearing hobby and an alluring addiction. I write because
I find it enjoyable, evocative at times and intensely therapeutic.
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Who are your favorite poets? Your favourite poems?
My favourite poems remain the ones I studied in school and include:
- Lochinvar by Sir Walter Scott
- Inchcape Rock by Robert Southey
- Coromandel Fishers by Sarojini Naidu
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Where do you find your inspirations?
Everywhere….Everything….I think inspiration is actually within, it
just gets ignited by anything external…..
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Any other passion/hobby?
Apart from work which is a key hobby for me, being a workaholic…I
like listening to music.
Specially Sufi music, Ghazals etc. Reading books….favourtie book ;
The secret by Rhonda Byron.
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Would you like to pen down your experience about P4poetry?
P4poetry came into my life a few days after I had penned my first
three poems, these were the ones on the Mumbai attacks. These poems
were up on the NDTV site and I was receiving emotional feedback from a
lot of people who were reading them but wanted these to reach a larger
audience. Someone mentioned P4P to me and I checked it out and read
some of the poems. Liked them a lot and uploaded my poems on the site.
A few days later found a few comments and started getting attracted to
coming back and reading poems here and enjoying them.
Slowly got seduced by this beautiful world of P4poetry, poems,
comments, interaction and was soon hooked. Felt like writing more,
participating more and the enjoyment grew by the day. Till it became a
part of one’s daily routine to sit and relax, relish and reflect for
the hour or so one put in here.
Well addiction grows and soon found myself tapping on the key board
first thing in the morning…. who needed news papers and food for
thought? This is complete nourishment for the mind and soul…..the
rest of the world can wait… let me rejuvenate and then start my
day….
The Poems paved the way and drew me to the poets, into the hearts of a
few, the minds of a few and maybe just a distant hazy view of the
rest. Wow! the world of poetry came alive….a vibrant real life
expereince of emotions, thoughts, perceptions, fears, love and
passion…..each poet / poetess reaching out and striking a chord or
touching my soul with their own unique rendition… forget
mobiles…emails and chat… this is the real world of
communication…the soul to soul connect!!!
Aaaah!! the journey has begun… beautiful , enriching and exciting so
far… co passengers making it more meaningful and enjoyable… lets
see where the journey ends…hard to envisage… right now go with the
flow… seek more and more….
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Who are your influences when writing?
My heart and my soul……at times my emotions …when they get the
better of me….
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What advice do you have for young poets?
Poetry is the strongest power of expression….no other form of
literature can make an impact as a few lines of poetry can…so write
if you feel like …write if you dont…write if your heart tells you
to…even – write even if it wont!!
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AND NOW A SLIGHT “TWIST” – A LIVE CHAT WITH SEEMA!!
After contemplations about a voice chat, we stuck with the plan – a gtalk chat! Seema was a livewire and so much fun to chat with! Hope you guys enjoy this session for I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing her!
SOME GENERAL & LIGHT-HEARTED QUESTIONS
Preeti: You’re now a “member-in-spotlight”. How was it being in the dark till now? : P
Seema: Well, I really never felt like I was in the dark……as one of my very first poems “Enlightenment” won a prize and I did receive a lot of feedback and comments…..always felt like wow! I’m being welcomed in style!!
Preeti: Awww…..we’re glad you felt this way! Thanks to all you lovely members out there for being so nice!
Seema: Yes, I think each of them is amazingly responsive and full of zest for poems and poets!
Preeti: Describe yourself in 5 words
Seema: 5 words…wow – Gregarious, lively, aggressive, compassionate, achievement-oriented
Preeti: whoa! Now that’s an interesting blend of traits! – doesn’t being achievement oriented sometimes lead to over-competitiveness? (Just wondering)
Seema: Not if u r only competing with your own self in which case u set high standards and aim only at bettering your own track record.
Preeti: Yes! So true. Competing with your own standards is the healthiest competition!!
Seema: Yes and in that case u end up encouraging every one else as well and that in it self motivates u to perform better. It’s an amazingly positive system! 
Preeti: That’s just what you’re doing at p4poetry.com and that’s what makes you worthy of the spotlight 
Seema: Thanks … But P4p has amazing people and amazing talent… they all are awesome…
Preeti: And what’s your Sunsign
Seema: Libra
Preeti: Ah! Now we know where the balance comes from! (Referring to Libra sign image)
Preeti: Who would you like to be reborn as and why?
Seema: I would like to be reborn as Obama and set the world right… LOL!
Preeti: What if God got mixed up between ‘b’ and’s’ and you ended up at OSAMA…then what? (Ha!Ha!….)
Seema: Well then I would set Al-Qaida right and make them the biggest and best NGO working for the people and not trying to eliminate them
Preeti: Ha! Ha! ….Qaida-giri 
Preeti: If you’re contesting for Miss World and I ask you to name a cause you support, what’d it be? (Please ignore – I stand for world peace: P)
Seema: Fight against terrorism! That cause, I would not just support but fight against!
Preeti: You’ve just won Miss World 2009! Just kidding. That’s a very noble thought!
Preeti: Tell us little about Fiji. If you were to write about the time you spent in Fiji in a few poetic lines, what’d you write?
Seema: A living paradise…
A treat to the eyes…
A complete world of its own…..
A retreat for the soul
Preeti: Wah! And your trade-mark perfect rhymes: D
Seema: LoL! Almost rhymed
Preeti: Almost is good enough for chat interview!
Preeti: You’re into Sufi music and ghazals? Any fav. artists?
Seema: Nusrat is definitely the most favourite…also Kailash Kher and a bit of Abida. And I simply adore Rahat, Nusrats son! (Rahet Fateh Ali Khan)
Preeti: I love Kailash Kher. And I’ve heard quite a bit of Nusrat as well considering we have a stock of CD’s at home! Ek line ho jaaye kiss eke gaane ki….
Seema: Kailash – Teri deewani………deewani……and yeah, Sufi music has amazing depth and what energy! Wow, it gives me a high!!!
Preeti: Being in a similar profession like yours (Chartered Accountancy), I was curious to know if poems trouble you and distract you in between work? : P
Seema: Nooo, not at all…..on the contrary they are very nice, relaxing and writing poetry is a hobby which soothes the brain and rejuvenates the mind!
Preeti: But doesn’t doing C.A. (studying and articleship) kill creativity?!
Seema: Yes, it does …… also I was lucky to get out of typical accounting work and get into systems. That is more creative and satisfying than audit! But CA is a degree…. you become a professional and make your work more enriching later!
Preeti: Hoping to get back my creativity: P
Preeti: What is a stronger emotion – Love or Hate?
Seema: Love. You can never hate some one as much as u can love some one… love is definitely much much more stronger!
Seema: When u hate some one you can put them out of your mind for a while…..when u love some one… Can u?? Never!!!
Preeti: Ha!Ha!….k. What if u love to hate someone…what’s stronger then? LOLZ
Seema: Then you’re in LOVE!! Might as well accept it …the hate will vanish!
Preeti: Let’s leave this bit unfinished for some other time….
QUESTIONS RELATED TO P4POETRY.COM AND POETRY IN GENERAL
Preeti: How did you find out about p4poetry.com? and who is the member closest to your heart on p4poetry.com?
Seema: A friend mentioned it when he read my poems….. Member closest to my heart – U?
Preeti: Ha! Ha! …. Me? :O How come/reasons?
Seema: Well I love it when I write beautiful poems and spend hours editing them… And you come by and leave remarks… “Could do with some editing”!!! I want to tear my hair out then!!!!!!
Preeti: Oh man! Really sorry! 
Seema: LOL! am joking no its fine.
Preeti: But how about next time I help you with editing? Not that I’m any good myself: P but two is better than one! 
Seema: No, the joy out of writing the poem… editing it…Chiseling it….. It’s a high…. wont share that with any one… you stick on to the comments LOL!!!
Preeti: lolz…sure
Preeti: Who is your favourite poet on p4poetry.com? (Apart from yourself)
Seema: Many…in fact each one…with their own style… All of them… can’t single out one…
Preeti: And if you were to name a few…
Seema: Shakeel..Vishvanandji, Parminder, Rajdeep, Ulhas, Vikash, Preeti, Renu, Shalu,Viju, Medhiniji,… shall I carry on?
Preeti: lolz….. smart!
Seema: LOL! All CAs are smart!
Preeti: I know!
Seema: That’s how we manage to become CAs!
Preeti: You favourite poem among all your poems and why?
Seema: Providence and the Mumbai attacks ones…real life episodes etched in the mind brought out to the world… relived memories…
Preeti: Yup!. I remember a certain seema posting 3 poems about Mumbai attacks….and well, here we are talking!
Seema: Poetic justice to some thing so remorseful…hard to describe the feeling I get when I read them….
Preeti: Yes, cause-poetry (like I call them) has that effect!
Preeti: If you’re given the task of reviving poetry, what’d you do? And do you think poems and poets get the standing that they deserve?
Seema: Well the first step to revive poetry would be to get the newspapers to stop treating them with such disdain! For god sake they r better than the page 3 and bollywood crap they carry. No I don’t think poems or poets get the stance they deserve…..Imagine after the Mumbai attack poems one of the leading news papers asked me if they could carry only a few lines of my poems.. Otherwise space would not b left for advertisements. And I refused!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Preeti: Oh MY GOD! – That’s just stooping to low! I think we were poets better off in the era of kings and royalty: D
Seema: LOL, sure. But I think u people are doing a fantastic job by reviving poetry thru this medium
Preeti: Thanks!
Seema: And yes, lets learn to take poems seriously and our selves lightly and then you will be able to write straight from the heart….and maybe help the cause of reviving poetry
Preeti: Whoa! That’s like the ‘line of the chat!! you type out winning lines! every tried freelancing for a living?!
Seema: LOL! Never had to… CA gave me more than enough for a living. But I am toying with the idea of writing short stories. Have some amazing ones all real life memories of Fiji!
Preeti: Whoa! I think we shld start www.s4story.com You can be the first contributor
Seema: Good idea lets do that!! LOL!, I’ll prob end up rhyming the short stories too!
Preeti: Suppose you were to give a new tag line for p4poetry.com, current one being ‘passion for poetry’, what would it be and why?
Seema: Poetry is passion!
Preeti: hah! Word jumble! Smart like a CA
Seema: Why? well gives u a high!! – No strings attached … LOL!
ASSOCIATION GAME
What comes to your mind first when I say…
|
Preeti |
Seema |
|
Poem |
P4poetry.com |
|
Poet |
Preeti (since you’re here |
|
Vikash |
Hardworking! |
|
Renu |
Romantic |
|
Raj Halve |
Nothing. Don’t know anything about him apart from the face that he’s a founder! (Preeti: Raj, start posting again |
|
Vishvnand ji |
Lively & Energetic! |
|
Language |
English |
|
Mother |
Teresa (LOL!) (Preeti: Now you’ve also won Miss Universe! |
|
Politics |
Pathetic |
|
Greed |
Gruesome. Leads to more greed n carries on in a vicious circle. (Preeti: Reminds me of Kane and Able by Jeffery Archer!) (Seema: I love that book!)(Preeti: Me too!) |
|
Money/Finances |
Balance Sheets (Preeti: That never tally!) (Seema: Use suspense accounts.) |
|
Seema |
Sahaa |
|
Joy |
Enjoy! (Rhyme and rhythm go hand-in-hand!) |
|
Fiji |
Romance, Sun, Sea, Palm trees….. |
|
Boredom |
No time for it… |
|
P4poetry.com |
Perpetual Passion |
RAPID FIRE ROUND
Disclaimer: Karan, sorry, but the rapid fire sounded too tempting!
|
Preeti |
Seema |
|
Hindi Poetry Or English Poetry? |
Hinglish LOL! |
|
Romantic Poems Or Tragic Poems |
Romantic, any day! |
|
Rhyme or Content? |
Balance the two |
|
Best Founder member at p4poetry.com? |
Renu, she never comments on my poems: P (Preeti: Renu, take note!) |
|
Most fun Prompto?! |
Acrostic |
|
What is more frustrating? – Poet’s block or not being able to pen your thoughts |
Poet’s block |
|
Penning down a poem or typing it out? |
Penning down |
|
Reading e-books or paper books? |
Paper. Can highlight what I read or like. |
|
Technology savvy or technology challenged? |
Savvy |
|
Do you listen to Your Heart or Mind? |
Heart always! |
Preeti : Thanks Seema for being a lovely guest. I’ve had a great time! (This is straight from my heart!) Any afterthoughts or question you want to ask me?
Seema: Yes, How’re you celebrating Valentine’s Day? And who’s the lucky one?
Preeti : Now…that’s a top secret! Go figure!
Seema: Ha! Ha! Okay. It was fun! Thanks again!
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We hope you enjoyed Seema’s company and this new twist in the tale!
