Years Spent : Exploring Poetry in Adventure, Life and Love

by Lalit Kumar

A journey of 10,000 miles

Across India and USA,

A few milestones of

Success, failure and hope.

Countless moments of

Adventure, passion and desires.

Encapsulated in this book –

‘Years Spent: Exploring Poetry in Adventure, Life and Love’

About the Author
Lalit Kumar likes to write both poetry and prose around the themes of adventure, exploration and everything in between. His innate sense of curiosity for life’s myriad experiences has taken him skydiving, rock climbing, skiing, motorcycling, horse riding, water rafting, scuba diving and participating in the Triathlon events.

His articles and poetry have been published in U.S. based India Currents magazine, The Financial Express and multiple online forums. He is an IIT (ISM Dhanbad) & IIM graduate and works in a business development role in the Technology sector. Currently, he resides in San Francisco Bay Area, USA.

Genres: Poetry

136 pages, Paperback

Published December 27, 2021

About the author

Writer | Speaker | Adventure Sports

Author of "Yosemite of My Heart : Poems of Adventure in California" and "Years Spent : Exploring Poetry in Adventure, Life and Love"

I like to write both prose and poetry around the themes of adventure, exploration and everything in between. I am big on adventure sports and have an innate sense of curiosity towards life’s myriad experiences that has taken me skydiving, rock climbing, skiing, motorcycling, scuba diving, kayaking and participating in Triathlon events, over the years.

I also love speaking on these themes and have appeared on several speaking forums and author’s panels.

For my day job, I love working in business development, strategic partnerships and shaping Go-To-market strategies in the Technology sector.

Reviews

[Bookish Buddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years Spent: Exploring Poetry in Adventure, Life and Love
Lalit Kumar

"There’s a reason poets often say, ‘Poetry saved my life,’ for often the blank page is the only one listening to the soul’s suffering, the only one registering the story completely, the only one receiving all softly and without condemnation.” These are the words by Clarissa Pinkola Estes and I couldn't agree more. So my passion for poetry grew recently and I don't really feel that I'm reading. We enjoy reading when we loose track of time and pages.

Years spent by Lalit Kumar is the latest addition to my favourite poetry books. Poetry to me is like enjoying music. The book consists of five different sections with different poems. All the poems were different and beautiful in it's own way. Simply gifted, A Nudge of memory are some of my personal favourite poems.

Everyone should definitely read poetry, it is like a happy pill. Few words can impart a huge impact on our soul. The theme of the poems are based on Love and Passion, Life and Adventure, Pain and Loss and so on. I loved the cover which is very simple and elegant. Do read Years Spent to dive into the world of poetry.

[Kevin Mallik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years Spent by Lalit Kumar is an exhilarating book of poems. The poet did a good job by segmenting the poems in five sections i.e. Life and Exploration, Freedom and Adventure, Pain and Loss, Success and Achievement, Love and Passion. All the segments are arranged theme wise and spurt with gamut of emotions.

The title poem “Years Spent” means specifically. It’s a beautifully written poem in simple words. It narrates the vagaries of author's life, how he felt at different junctures. At the end, he seeks inspiration from “Butterfly” that epitomizes detachment from the past deeds and looking to fly away afresh, to soar high. Pragmatic yet inspiring!

The poet is quite expressive throughout the book, it will not only inspire you but also delight your heart with poems of variety and fervent. Poems are simple and become easy to understand with riveting illustrations at the end of the each poem. Among all aspects, the versatility of the collection is superb and it needs true appreciation by the readers of poetic genre.

[Solitude and books · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐀 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 ⁣
𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐒𝐀, ⁣
𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 ⁣
𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞.⁣
𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 ⁣
𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬. ⁣
𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤- ⁣
'𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵: 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦' ⁣
_________________⁣
𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳: 𝘓𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘒𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘳 ⁣
𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴⁣
Book : 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵: 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦⁣
_________________⁣
⁣
Poems are very close to my heart. They have the capability to describe something in only selected words. There are plethora of poems in this anthology inked within 135 pages.

A soulful collection about the author's intimate moments of hope disappointment success failure love loss and migration. One will find myriads of such pieces that range from different themes like wildflowers in a bouquet and bring in the essence of our lives.⁣⁣

Some talk about authors space in which he likes to explore the outer and thus his inner world. Few take up different aspects of our lives through presenting authors love for sports and thus paint the picture of it with nuances of different hues of his emotions in the adventure field filled with joys and energy and some portray one's heart entangled in different phases of life one has been through. ⁣

The author is a resident of USA from where he has also addressed the feelings of the first and second generation immigrants on a foreign land. ⁣
⁣
There are 67 poems divided into thematically arranged and emotionally vibraint sections like Life and Exploration, Freedom and Adventure, Pain and Loss, Success and Achievement, Love and Passion. that talk about our dreams, various emotions and everlasting desires. Some are accompanied by creative illustrations. ⁣⁣

In simple yet beautiful verses he has portrayed his hearts songs quite aptly touching the reader's hearts. They portray the simple joys and essence of life. Check the blog for more.

[Booxoul]

Indeed, it is rightly said that poetry is not a profession rather a condition. True, it is a depiction of the poet’s depiction of his/her true feelings that they decide to put on paper in the same manner as does a painter, splaying different colours of life on a canvas.

Poetry, for me, is always a genre that I get back to, especially in times of distress. It is one of those places which give one maximum solace, I feel. The lyrical play of words, the contours created via a colourful chain of events and depictions created, the warm rush of fuzzy emotions, the stark portrayals of life and its different facets – be it love, loss, hope, heartbreak, despair or all other such elements, this is one such modicum which never fails to wonder or amaze its readers.

“Years spent” by Lalit Kumar is an anthology of one such amalgamation of true wonders. Poems in this one are divided into five subsections, each one portraying a different aspect of human emotions, splashing a different shade of life on paper. Each and every poem written by Lalit is poignant and reflects upon life in a manner that is a unique musing by itself. He explores radically paradoxical terminologies at a single point in time through his works. For instance, whilst he responds to the Higher voice call in the piece ‘If there is one true calling’ he simultaneously shows a hardcore, humbled acceptance of the insignificance of his existence via ‘You Matter’. A single book spanning numerous topics, Lalit manages to capture the attention of his readers and keep it hooked right until the last piece. His writing comes across as being honed over a period of time, possibly due to the enormous amount of experience he has presumably garnered over the period of his life to date.

Quite a few of the pieces are my favourites including ‘At the crossroads’, ‘The Second Mountain’, ‘Obsessed’ and quite a few others.

What made his work different from other poets for me was the genuine and candid frankness with which he has put across even simple concepts of life with stark clarity, portraying not only candour and diligence but finesse and essence of the next level. His love of life, his adventurous outlook towards the numerous aspects are what make this anthology a cut above the rest, I feel. Each and every segment he covers has a gait of its own I feel. It feels like a chasm of abundant possibilities, one which is waiting patiently, to be explored, to be mused upon, reflected in the best possible manner and its takeaways blended and inculcated towards a contented life living.

The imagery he has added to every piece not only provides that break to the work but also gives a body, a definition and a face to every poem. I always feel a bit of imagery goes a very long way to making that essential mark in the minds of the readers, especially as far as poetry goes because though rhythmically and lyrically written and inherent of so many colours and auras, the pictography gives it that oomph.

A superb anthology of poems, touching upon numerous facets of life and its emotions, in an immensely creative, aesthetic pursuit by a gifted poet.

Well done, Lalit Kumar. Looking forward to your next work.

So, that’s it from all of us here at Booxoul for now. Do stay tuned for the latest, best and most relatable trends and content in the field of books, entertainment, lifestyle and travel. Booxoul, India’s best book review and lifestyle blog. We love books peeps.

[Sumith Chowdhury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry is the very essence of life. It's the fleeting thought which floats from one realm to another, between fiction & reality. It's also the reflection of our very orderly existence. This reminds me of a saying,
'Don't just exist,
learn to live your life.
Don't forget to count the stars
while looking at the moon.'
All this is possible with the help of poems.

So why is poetry so important? One can understand this from the quote by Robin Williams from a very popular movie' Dead Poets Society'.
"We read & writer poetry because we're members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering are noble pursuits necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love - these are what we stay alive for..."
Thus, it is very essential inorder to sustain what we can happiness (bliss) for a perpetual state of time.

The poet explores his inner emotions in tandem with reader's minds. It helps introspect one's true calling. This book helps readers to connect with their lives while filling them with new thoughts, ideas & inspirations. The most remarkable thing about this short poetry book is the language used here. It's so deep, well written & full of rich vocabulary which touches the chord the moment we set our eyes in them. The alignment is perfect, even the presentation is aptly balanced. In addition to these, there are plenty of images/illustrations added at several segments/sections/parts of the book which looks appealing & appropriate to the eyes of the reader.

The only drawback being it lacks the coordination throughout the entire book. While some of the poems are enriched with much superiority whereas others pale in comparison to the contrast presented here. Also, I wish there were suitable rhyming schemes added to make them more beautiful. Overall, a decent read.

[Harsh Tyagi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lalit Kumar writes on the themes of Life and Exploration, Freedom and Adventure, Pain and Loss, Success and Achievement, Love and Passion in this collection of 67 poems, titled Years Spent.

Just with looking at the wonderful cover and the content index, the book spreads out the wings of beautiful poetry inside. Each poem has an appropriate title to it and the book has gorgeous content.

I was having a hard time this week and could not manage much time to read. Then I picked up this poetry book and this book left me with mixed feelings. The poet has portrayed all sorts of emotions in this book and it's quite evident from the assortment of the topics explored in the poetry collection.

The poems are quite interesting, relevant and beautiful. The author has poured down his thoughts on paper in the most beautiful lexicon possible, and it's soothing to read the poems, some of which are backed with simple yet lovely illustrations.

One of them that touched my heartstrings, was the poem titled Desires.

By the end of the day
still left with unfinished tasks,
I grapple with
the limits of my time.

[Bibliophillic1997 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am fond of poetic rhealm. That gives me opportunity and freedom to write down my thoughts breaking the barriers of grammer and punctuation. And thus, this book tops my this month's most fav book. This book is a collection of poems which defines many aspects of life. The way author have presented them and that too in such a simple way is not a child's play.

This book waken up the poet in me. You know there are few books that just feel good to read no matter from where u start? Yes, this is that book. The poems are arranged in chronological order and with sketches that elaborate the depth of it. From simple day to day life topics such as tea, coffe and other stuffs to complex phenomenon such as miracle, obsession, etc are discussed in his poems.

The book is small, usually poetic books are not that bigger deal when it comes to length. The way author have presented is phenomenal and the language of the poems is also simple. Poet have focused on poetic versions of adventure, love and life. Which sums up its title. It's a worth a shot who finds peace in rhymes.

[Divya Malhotra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventurous poetry book review

As a reader stories touch by heart but it is poetry which will always be in my heart forever.

As I have written poetries for the dear one's the essence of writing and expressing the emotions hits way more differently.

Lalit has beautifully written the poetries in "years spent" where he has explained adventure, life and love.

Desires and obsessions poetries touched my heart.

The poet sums up the true life events throughout like pain , emotions and the beautiful life gifted.

[Sophie Bowns · Rating 4 out of 5]

The poems were intelligently and articulately written. I also enjoyed the drawings!