By Vani

Two weeks ago when my editor suggested that I review a book of poetry, my answer was a vehement “No”.

“Poetry is not for me,” I told her without mincing words. “But the writer has penned his poems around his experiences and I think you’d enjoy it,” she said.

With much reluctance, I agreed for her to send me the book – and to cut a long story short, from the moment I took it in my hands, I haven’t been able to put it down.

In his first anthology, Snowflakes of Time, Memories and Musings (published by Bloomsbury), Kanwal Sibal, one of India’s best known diplomats, brings together a collection of 100 poems written over a period of 50 years.

A career diplomat with 41 years of experience, Sibal is at his best when he writes about bilateral relationships, foreign policy issues and international politics – all of which he says provides him with “an inspiration to write”. All at once, I am reminded of a quote by the Roman satirist, Horace: “Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone.” True that! Read more

Source: The Quint