The Wisdom of Brevity and Simplicity

Book Review

I became familiar with Malayalam poet Ali Kadukassery’s work on Facebook. This post takes a look at his latest collection of poems. Ali writes in Malayalam. Let me introduce him to a wider audience by reviewing his poetry in English.

Ali’s poems are remarkable for their aphoristic brilliance. Most of the poems are brief, but they carry the weight of a lifetime's reflection. Rather than relying on elaborate imagery or lyrical ornamentation, Ali distils experience into compact, memorable insights that linger long after the reading is over. Each poem is less a narrative than a revelation, a flash of thought that compels the reader to pause, reflect, and often reconsider familiar assumptions.

Let me cite a couple of examples.

Distance

While wandering in search

of the distance from

Siddhartha to the Buddha

a bullet was found.

On that was marked

the distance from

Gandhi to Godse.

Transformation

Having listened to the grievances

The idol said to the devotee:

“To reach this stage

from a mere stone

I too had to endure

A lot of wounds.”

The devotee left

with a contended mind.

The poems are deeply philosophical without ever becoming obscure. Apparent simplicity is a striking quality of Ali’s poems. They illuminate the ordinary and draw attention to truths that are often overlooked in the rush of daily life. Like finely crafted aphorisms, they compress profound observations into a few lines, proving that brevity need not come at the expense of depth. Many poems leave the reader with a lingering question rather than a comforting answer, making reflection an essential part of the reading experience.

            A Historic Verdict

Unable to bear the weight of words,

Poetry collapsed within the language.

The letters bore witness against the poet

For forcing poetry into servitude

And burdening it with

Superfluous imagery.

The historic judge decreed

That poetry be liberated

From the confines of pedantry.

Now, poetry has allied itself with reading

And celebrates the freedom

Of transparency.

Religion is one of the dominant concerns of the collection. Ali approaches the subject with honesty and moral courage, questioning the value of religious systems that divide humanity instead of uniting it. His criticism is not directed against faith itself but against the intolerance, violence, and sectarianism that so often masquerade as religious devotion. In doing so, he reminds us that compassion and humanity are far greater measures of spirituality than ritual or dogma.

Entry

God came down to Earth

to visit the places of worship

built by humans.

But

upon reaching each one,

He saw a sign:

"No entry for those of other faiths."

Finally,

unable to enter anywhere,

God returned in disappointment

and placed a sign

before the gates of Heaven:

"No entry for followers of any religion."         

The Moment

It was the moment

God stepped out

That religion slipped in.

 

For darkness can only enter

When the light is gone.

 

Ali by Joseph Joe

Irony is perhaps the poet's most powerful literary weapon. Again and again, the poems expose the contradictions that define human existence. The devout preach love while nurturing hatred; those who seek peace become instruments of conflict; people pursue happiness through endless acquisition only to discover emptiness. These paradoxes are presented with quiet restraint rather than loud denunciation, making their impact all the more penetrating. The poet trusts the reader to recognise the absurdities of life without being told what to think.

            Preys

A fish caught in the net

Asked the fisherman:

'Why did you cast the net?

I would have taken the bait

Had you used a hook.'

The fisherman replied:

'What does it matter? Either way,

You are the meal for my hunger.'

The fish said:

'Had it been a hook,

My own hunger too

Would have been satisfied before I died.'

 What makes this collection especially rewarding is its ability to provoke thought without sounding preachy. Ali does not offer easy solutions or moral sermons. Instead, he presents observations with wit, irony, and philosophical clarity, allowing readers to arrive at their own conclusions. His poems function as mirrors, reflecting both the follies and the possibilities of human existence.

This is a collection that deserves to be read slowly. Many of its poems invite repeated reading, revealing new shades of meaning with every encounter. In an age of noise and verbosity, Ali Kadukassery demonstrates the enduring power of economy, proving that a handful of well-chosen words can often say more than pages of explanation. His poetry is not merely to be read: it is to be pondered, remembered, and carried into life.

Let me end this review with yet another captivating poem:

            Madness

No religious fanaticism,

no caste fanaticism,

no political fanaticism,

no obsession with money—

none of the madness

that afflicts them.

Yet,

they called the man

wandering the streets

a madman.

 

PS. All the poems above are translated by me with the help of AI. I own all limitations of translation.