beyond the horizon beyond

by Kala Ramesh

‘beyond the horizon beyond’, Kala Ramesh’s first book of haiku and haibun, contains eleven years of her work. It includes 283 haiku arranged into the five elements known as the Panchabhutas, and 41 haibun (haiku embedded in prose). The cover design and illustrations are by Prabha Mallya. Richard Gilbert “in this book are many examples of Kala’s unique voice, which offers a delicacy of language, through her ability to articulate nuanced interior worlds.” Bill Kenney observes that “all Kala’s many interests and studies resolve themselves in Haiku poet? Indian poet? Woman poet? A phenomenal poet, surely, ever absorbing and moving beyond what she finds in haiku, in art, in philosophy, in life. Travel with her as she takes us beyond the horizon beyond.”

Genres: Poetry

204 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2017

Reviews

[Michael Rehling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading Kala Ramesh for two decades now. It just becomes better and better. Her haiku and haibun come in all the seasons and all the flavors of the form. There is little in this volume that will not delight or amaze. Many of her haibun will educate you but in the spirit of the haiku form her poems have a wonderfully universal quality. A few examples:

full car park
the winter moon
at every turn

sunset
I walk my shadow
to the sea

falling leaves
if only sorrow could be
contained in a palm

In all of these, there lives a soft union between nature and human nature. In the first one, we share a 'winter moon' with the frustration we all feel searching for a parking spot. But in all the stress there is the bonus of that moon. That second poem is wonderfully simple since your shadow has no free will and the walk to a sunset sea is entirely the choice of the poet. In the last poem cited above, there is the beauty of autumn. Kala has seen that this beauty came at a cost. The longer we live the sharper this contrast can become. These are a few small examples, you will find your own favorites.

I don't write long reviews, they bore most people, and I am one of them, but this book is worthy and the poet is worthy. What better words can be said about a volume of poetry?

I leave you with another of my favorites. This one line haiku would make any poet proud and once again Kala has woven together stars and the operations of a poet's brain:

the space between stars mymindclutter

[Piya ⏾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

beyond the horizon beyond stands as a testament in blending traditional Indian themes with the succinct beauty of haiku and haibun. it’s a compelling read for those interested in poetry that transcends cultural boundaries while remaining deeply rooted in its heritage, loved the ending part the most

[Yesha Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

beyond
the horizon
beyond

the title of this ethereal book is poetry in itself. Authored by Kala Ramesh, the flag bearer of Indian Haiku poetry, this book comprises of some breath-taking haiku and evocative haibun rooted in the very essence of Indian culture.
The five haiku sections: Prithvi, Jalam, Agni, Vayu and Akash; named after the five natural elements flow like the Ragas of music, seamlessly into one another to form the core of this book. These take the reader with them upon a journey of poetry that begins with the temple bells of the morning puja to the thunderclap of a dark night, from the first trimester to child birth and from youth to ripe old age.
It is almost impossible to pick out favourites from this book, but here is my vain attempt to point the ones (and many more) I have so loved.

morning raga…
a honeybee attempts
to waken the bud


midnight jetty
the sound of water
slapping water

love scene
my daughter
drops the remote

liquid twilight
the tilt of a water pot
on her hip

The haibun section is a colourful tapestry of traditional poems, enriched with tales of simple and innocent life of the country. The verses are appealing and relatable at so many junctures, almost making one nostalgic. The sutra, The kulfiwala, Coffee Blossom, The Blue Jacaranda… some of the unforgettable ones.
This book is a must-have, must-read for all haiku lovers!

[Indra Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful read that deserves a place in the bookshelf of every haiku reader and writer. A good haiku highlights the beauty in ordinary things, taking and involving the reader into its expressed moment and the haiku contained in this book accomplish this task with amazing grace and simplicity. Another unique feature of this book is the categorization of haiku based upon the five basic elements (earth, water, fire, air and sky) which reflects upon the poet's cultural significance and is probably one of its kind.Last but not least the haibun (a combination of prose and haiku) have a beautiful depth that leave a lasting impression on the reader's heart. Highly recommended for all haiku enthusiasts.

[Vinay Leo - vinayleoreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always mesmerizing to read haiku. This book of haiku from one of my mentors is no different. Right from the cover to the title, to the many beautiful haiku in this collection, this book adds value to a haiku enthusiast's bookshelf. I'm not a connoisseur of haibun form, so while I liked reading those, I am not sure if I loved it. It's not a flipside for those who love attempting haibun of course. :-)

[Aishwariya Laxmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took my time with this book, reading a few pages at a time, truly savoring the verses.

[Xenia Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Horizon Beyond is a beautiful selection of haiku and haibun by Kala Ramesh, which takes us on a journey through the five elements, the five senses, and through 15th-century Indian mystic-poet-saint Kabir's ten doors. Many haiku can be enjoyed as meditations, and she leaves enough dreaming room in the poems for us to connect our own stories to hers. It is a collection I will continue to dip in and out of and one I truly treasure.

[anika 🪷 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up from my cousins bookshelf, I hadn’t been interested in reading for a loooong time and I read a few pages, then a few more, each page unfolded and my mind kept trying to wrap itself around the story, but there was no story, everything was being pereceived as I thought it would be. I related to everything and nothing. Now of course I won’t say it’s the most well written thing in the world but it did make me feel something that no book had in a long time. This is the book that left me wanting to read, to be curious, to learn. Maybe you all don’t see it that way but I loved it.