Reflections

Poetry is defined as: "literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm". I intend commenting on Dr Lakshmi de Silva's 35 paged book of poems titled 'Reflections' published in March this year by Vijita Yapa Publications, with that definition in mind. Needless to say the book is a fine literary work by a person of definite literary bent, experience, expertise and great sensibility. Intensity of feeling and ideas Poetry is literature with special intensity my chosen definition states. Thus the first criteria of judging Lakshmi's poetry is the feature or fact of intensity. All 26 of her poems are intense in the emotions expressed. The fact of the feelings expressed being felt experiences and thus sincere adds to the intensity of emotions that come through. The reader is captured by this feature. The final lines of 'Tangalle , 9th April 1971' convey sharply the terror of the first JVP insurgency: "That too was real as this night we lie