A Review of Parables: Fair and Flawed by Lalit Mohan Sharma
Lalit Mohan Sharma’s Parables: Fair and Flawed is an intricate poetic exploration of the human condition, weaving together elements of philosophy, introspection, and social critique. Published in December 2021, the collection grapples with themes of love, ego, time, memory, identity, and power, offering a deeply layered meditation on personal and collective existence. What distinguishes Sharma’s poetry is not just its thematic richness, but the way he fuses the personal and the universal, presenting his reflections in a manner that feels at once intimate and socially relevant. This review will engage directly with Sharma’s poems, analyzing how they contribute to the overarching message of the collection.
Establishing the Tone: The Journey from Perception to Truth
From the outset, Sharma sets a contemplative and often melancholic tone, urging readers to pause and reconsider the way they perceive the world. Ripeness, one of the opening poems, introduces the idea that human understanding is inherently limited and prone to haste. The poem critiques our tendency to form judgments prematurely, emphasizing the necessity of time, patience, and deeper reflection. Sharma’s poetic voice acts as both a guide and a skeptic, urging his readers to resist quick conclusions and instead embrace the complexity of truth.
This theme of perception versus reality resurfaces in Better Than Mirror, where Sharma questions whether the human eye alone can ever capture the essence of truth. By drawing on the power of art, he argues that the creative process—whether through painting, poetry, or photography—can reveal hidden layers of reality that remain inaccessible to the naked eye. This poem is a meditation on artistic vision, reinforcing the idea that art is not just a reflection of reality, but a means of transcending it.
Power, Betrayal, and Disillusionment
A recurring motif in Parables: Fair and Flawed is the tension between idealism and reality, particularly in the context of power and societal structures. Parables-2020 is a striking example of this, where Sharma reflects on betrayal and the shifting roles of authority in society. Written with a tone of resignation and quiet disillusionment, the poem examines how societal and personal struggles intertwine, leading to a sobering recognition of the fragility of ideals. Sharma does not romanticize the past nor offer simplistic critiques; instead, he presents power as an ever-evolving force, shaped by ambition, manipulation, and the passage of time.
A more direct critique of media and propaganda appears in None for Hydra, a poem that employs mythological references to illustrate how modern communication shapes and distorts reality. Sharma suggests that in a world saturated with news, photography, and digital narratives, truth itself becomes a contested space, often manipulated by powerful institutions. The poem’s structure, shifting between sharp commentary and introspective doubt, mirrors the chaos of contemporary discourse, leaving readers questioning what is real and what is merely constructed perception.
The Self in Flux: Identity, Memory, and Transformation
While many of Sharma’s poems engage with external realities, some of his most compelling pieces delve into the self as a shifting entity, caught between past and present, tradition and change. Mapping the Self exemplifies this, offering a deeply personal reflection on self-discovery and the passage of time. The poem explores the interactions between generations, highlighting how personal desires, societal expectations, and inherited traditions continuously shape identity. Sharma’s ability to capture this fluidity of the self makes the poem resonate with readers navigating their own transformations.
In The Kiss, Sharma juxtaposes intimate human connection with the overwhelming pressures of societal crises. The poem’s imagery shifts between tenderness and turmoil, reinforcing the idea that love can serve as a sanctuary in a world rife with instability. This theme is revisited in Human Eros, where Sharma meditates on love, desire, and the passage of time, grappling with the persistence of longing even in the face of separation. The poem does not merely lament lost love but explores how emotions evolve and endure, adding to the collection’s broader discussion of impermanence and change.
Moral Dilemmas and the Question of Forgiveness
One of Sharma’s most thought-provoking poems, Forgiveness, confronts the reader with moral and ethical contradictions. Drawing on religious and philosophical references, Sharma examines the tension between pride, ego, and redemption. There is a subtle yet powerful critique of how power often erodes true justice, with the poem posing the question: Can forgiveness exist in a world driven by ambition and self-interest? The invocation of biblical themes lends the poem a timeless quality, making it as much a reflection on ancient wisdom as it is a critique of contemporary moral failings.
Similarly, While You Focus investigates the interplay between conscious observation and subconscious impulses. The poem explores how human actions are shaped by both deliberate choice and unseen forces, reinforcing Sharma’s ongoing exploration of the complexity of human nature.
The Existential Struggle: Finding Meaning Amidst Chaos
The concluding poem, Carving the Actual, acts as a summation of the collection’s existential inquiries. Here, Sharma portrays life as a path marked by uncertainty, shaped by both personal agency and external chaos. The poem does not offer easy resolutions; rather, it presents existence as an ongoing process of interpretation and meaning-making. In this way, Sharma aligns himself with existentialist thinkers, suggesting that clarity is elusive, yet the search for meaning remains essential.
Final Thoughts: A Poetic Reflection on the Human Condition
Parables: Fair and Flawed is not merely a collection of poems; it is a deeply reflective and layered meditation on existence itself. Sharma’s ability to weave philosophical depth into striking imagery ensures that each poem resonates beyond the page, urging readers to engage with their own perceptions, emotions, and ethical dilemmas. The collection’s strength lies in its balance—while it offers profound introspection, it remains grounded in the realities of contemporary life, addressing issues of power, identity, and love with unflinching honesty.
By engaging directly with specific poems and providing detailed illustrations, this review highlights Sharma’s ability to combine the deeply personal with the universally relevant. Whether reflecting on betrayal, transformation, longing, or redemption, Sharma’s poetry invites readers to embark on their own journey of introspection, making Parables: Fair and Flawed a significant contribution to modern poetry.
With its rich thematic range, masterful use of language, and intellectual depth, this collection offers a compelling and thought-provoking reading experience, ensuring that Sharma’s voice will continue to resonate with readers long after they have turned the final page.
