Jagari Mukherjee
Utpal Chakraborty’s poetry collection Moonwalk in the Afternoon (2024), published by Penprints, presents a vivid exploration of human emotions, nature, and the subtleties of everyday life. This collection is a testament to Chakraborty’s ability to weave intricate images and profound reflections into his work, creating a tapestry of poems that are both accessible and deeply moving.
Moonwalk in the Afternoon opens with a contemplative tone, inviting readers to pause and reflect on their surroundings. The title itself evokes a sense of wonder and curiosity, blending the ethereal with the mundane. This duality is a recurring theme throughout the collection, as Chakraborty deftly navigates between the ordinary and the extraordinary, the tangible and the intangible.
One of the standout aspects of Chakraborty’s poetry is his keen observational skills. His poems often begin with a simple, relatable scene or object—a tree, a street, a moment of solitude—and expand into broader meditations on life and existence. The opening poems are replete with Christian religious imagery beneath which lies both spirituality and cynicism. In the poem titled “Dedicated to Vinci”, the poet starts with a poignant reminder that celebrations are not for everyone: “Every Christmas the moon looks blue/ eavesdropping by the poor huts,/ shedding tears of sorrow./ The red corpuscles inundate the globe.” This ability to find depth in simplicity is one of the collection’s greatest strengths. The poem ends when the narrator is woken up by his mother and realizes that he had been dreaming all along: “Early morning dreams come true.”
Chakraborty’s language is both lyrical and precise, with a musicality that enhances the emotional impact of his work. His use of metaphor and simile is particularly effective, creating vivid and memorable imagery. In the poem “A Rift,” he describes his childhood, while being aware of the cleft between the past and the present: “One silver afternoon a moistened string glints an old/ thatched and a summer cool common earthen kitchen./ A hem of a sari under which I and my cousin fed on the same breasts.” The piece captures the haunting yet beautiful persistence of the past in our lives. This extended metaphor not only conveys the poem’s theme but also resonates on a sensory level, allowing readers to feel the quiet reverberations of their own memories.
Another notable feature of Moonwalk in the Afternoon is Chakraborty’s exploration of nature, especially a few dealing with climate change. His poems often draw parallels between natural elements and human emotions, suggesting an intrinsic connection between the two. In poems like “O Thunberg”, “Beasts of Prey”, and “Abode” this motif of interconnectedness runs throughout the collection, highlighting Chakraborty’s philosophical outlook and his appreciation for the natural world. The last mentioned carries forward Tagore’s prayer in a postmodern world, beginning with “Where the gestated trees bend down to earth/ and the wildflowers are like generous clouds”, and ending in tolerance and inclusiveness: “In that abode of peace, I abide, and in that city of wisdom/ you too are welcome to reside.”
The emotional range of the collection is also impressive. While many of the poems are introspective and contemplative, there are moments of joy, sorrow, hope, and longing. Chakraborty does not shy away from the complexities of human emotion, instead embracing them in all their varied forms. This emotional honesty gives the collection a sense of authenticity and relatability, allowing readers to connect with the poems on a personal level.
However, some readers might find the collection’s introspective nature somewhat challenging. The poems often require careful reading and contemplation to fully appreciate their nuances and depth. Yet, this is also what makes Moonwalk in the Afternoon a rewarding read, as each poem reveals new layers upon subsequent readings.
Utpal Chakraborty’s Moonwalk in the Afternoon is a deftly crafted collection that offers a rich and nuanced exploration of life, nature, and human emotion. Through his lyrical language, vivid imagery, and profound reflections, Chakraborty invites readers to join him on a journey of discovery and introspection.