Epitaph and Other Poems

The poems,apparently written decades back, is still very contemporary. Some of the poems are very evocative and shows an understanding of human nature. The poem "I still remember", is so well written and is my favourite in the book. Mind-- is another one. Its sad that thepoet is not there to write anymore. The poems by his children show, as another reviewer mentioned, that poets are born , not made.

Epitaph and Other Poems by P. Ramachandran is a collection of poems, all of which are infused with so many emotions and creativity. The poems speak about his life, dreams, disappointments, anger, pain, joys, and sorrows. Every poem has a story to tell. When I picked up this book, I didn’t know what to expect. But now that I've completed it, I am glad to have come across the book. The initial part of the book talks about author's life and his struggles. Unfortunately, the author had to cut short his formal education at that stage to shoulder the responsibility of his family but he kept his disappointments within and remained a fighter and an enthusiastic learner throughout his life. He had written many poems and towards his end, he had expressed a passing wish to get them published. The poems are expressive, emotional, deep and painful. There is great clarity of thought which is sometimes very difficult to find. It is commendable that the author was able to write about such diverse range of topics. It really shows his emotional intelligence. This compilation also includes a few poems written by author's son and daughter. My favourite was the poem titled "Dawn" which talks about struggle, turmoil and hope of bright morn. Though there were a few poems which were difficult to relate to. But still, the book managed to impress me in no time. The book consists of less than 60 pages and hence can be read in one go but I would recommend that it's best to read bit by bit, cherishing and relishing each verse until its very essence is absorbed by the reader. Recommended to all the poetry lovers!

Ramachandran's schooling in a missionery school has a very high influence on his English & choice of words.How can a Hindu living in India think of a Coffin made of Cypress wood otherwise? The thought of death is very clearly in his mind and it is reflected in many of the poems. He has looked at death in a very positive way and as a release. The imagination is so fertile that he can remember the night of his birth so vividly! The author was personally known to me but his poetic side became known much after his passing. He was a philosopher with a view on most matters and his wife was known to write Poetry, but these gems of his thoughts expressed so clearly & nicely through poetry could see the light of day only now thanks to his children. A great read for any body with some imagination. Cherian Baby

This brilliant collection of thoughts traces so many facets of life – birth, joy, fear, death and love among them, subtly oscillating between one emotion and another. And requesting a vote for Mr Satan himself. You can read it all in one go – or dive into each one on its own – both were unique experiences. The closing – two poems each from the author’s own blood truly stand testimony to Robert Graves - that “poets are born, not made.”

This is a collection of poetry written by and about a remarkable person who led an ordinary life. His life, dreams, setbacks, rage, anguish, joys, and sorrows are all discussed in the poetry. This book includes insightful writings and ideas from the author that come together to create a beautiful poem. More like to be inspired by the author's bitter and lovely memories from his earlier days. Some poems and lines are relatable in some or the other way but it may vary from one person to another. Quality of the content is good. Each and every single poem is heart warming and beautiful. The cover page of the book is aesthetically designed and the title is also good.

All poems , written in good diction, are contemporary and relatable. Seem to be inspired by memories sweet and sour of the author in his younger days ....the collection conveys a varied range of human emotions. Each poem has a story to tell , embedded in simple rhymes. Some of my favourites , apart from the titular poem epitaph , are - Dawn, Promised land , Are you your brother's keeper, Treasure , and the lonely road. Especially enjoyed the dry humour of -To Have a Head is a Shame & The appeal to Voters.A worthy read indeed!

Ramachandran’s poems are thrifty with words but carry within them a wealth of emotion and a deep understanding of human nature. They are beautifully reflective and draw the reader in, capturing attention and holding it. The learning distilled from his own bitter-sweet experiences of life is woven into these evocative pieces which find an echo within all of us. A must read.

It's a wonderful collection of poems involving humour, sarcasm, memories and a life full of experiences. The beginning gives an introduction about author's life and the challenges he faced. I liked author's passion of reading books. This beautiful poetry book could not see the world if it wasn't for the author's last wish to publish it. He has mentioned about all his emotions through the poems. His children have also given few poems at the end dedicated to their father. My favourite poems were below: I still remember How far away? To have a head is a shame The poems have meaningful words and can be felt by the reader. The endings of most of the poems have a twist. I enjoyed reading them. I liked the humour and sarcasm included in some of them. If you like to read poetry written with emotions and feelings, this is a must read.