Swayamprava Rath
The title Ashes to Anthem is an apt key to enter the imaginative world of the poet. Ashes are indicative of loss, destruction, bereavement and the remnants of experiences that can never be recovered; Anthems are indicative of affirmation, courage, celebration and renewed life. These are two poles of the collection which form one of its defining trajectories. The poet doesn’t deny suffering; she faces it, lives it, thinks of it, and ultimately tries to work through suffering. In that way the poems are not just poems of grief. They’re poems about the human self that can be after grief.The signature poem, 'Ashes to Anthem,' sets the tone for this transformation and its clear drive. The poet poignantly portrays her emergence from the ashes of a shattered self, depicting a courageous journey through fear and grief towards healing, renewal and the eventual blossoming of the self. The image of ashes is of extra importance because it could also mean that there will be a beginning again. The poet’s scars are no longer just wounds but also opportunities for meaning. The collection’s emotional architecture is derived from the movement from brokenness to self-acceptance.
