Of Angels and Few Lies, Of Everything Under Blue Skies

Raminder Bajwa takes a poetic journey, exploring life, love, and faith in Of Angels and Few Lies, of Everything Under Blue Skies. His words lilt across the page in rhythmic cadence, using a rhyming scheme as their guide. In this simplistic, yet thoughtful, look at many aspects of human existence, Bajwa shares his musings.

Most resonant in Bajwa’’s observations about life is the paradoxical idea that one can learn just as much (if not, more) from an enemy as one can learn from a friend. The poem entitled “I Thank and I Swear,” one of the most captivating of all of his poems, convincingly explores this paradox. Another common theme is the idea of humility and acceptance of things beyond one’s control. Presented in contradiction as well, “I Apologize” is truly humbling to reader and writer alike.

With the exception of the poems in the section entitled “Life and the Universe,” most of Bajwa’’s work is literal. The use of symbolism and abstraction is rare. The net effect of this is that, instead of allowing for individual interpretation and appreciation, ideas and thoughts are fed directly. Something is lost when the individual is unable to draw from his or her own experiences in a unique way.

While much of what the author explores in Of Angels and Few Lies, of Everything Under Blue Skies is universally relevant, there is an untoward undercurrent of misogyny that effectively cuts his target audience in half. Additionally, there is a surprising focus on brand names and an overuse of clichés in Bajwa’’s writing. Authenticity and originality are compromised to a certain extent because of this. Still, those who can look beyond these blunders, however, are sure to appreciate many of Bajwa’s insights.