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My Source of Comfort and Happiness
Happy Agony is a heartfelt collection of poetry that explores the many facets of life, from love and grief to the societal pressures we face. Where did the idea for this collection come from and how did it develop over time?
Writing poetry has been my source of comfort and happiness since I was a child, allowing me to express myself creatively and release my emotions. The collection was born out of a careful review of poems I had penned from childhood to the present day, handpicking fifty pieces that capture significant moments in my life. This collection of poems is an autobiographical account of my life in poetry.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this collection?
I needed to present a range of ideas that others could connect with. Themes that are universal and part of everyone’s life journey. These themes – childhood, community life, aspirations, relationships, and grief – are common to all.
I appreciated the candidness with which you shared key moments that impacted you in life. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The poems that proved most difficult to write delved into personal sorrow, such as the early loss of my sister and the subsequent deaths of both my parents within a span of nine months. It was a soul-crushing task to express these emotions through poetry. Also, the difficulty of writing poems about the COVID-19 pandemic, which was amplified by the grief of personal losses.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Happy Agony?
My aim is to reveal snippets of my personal life to form connections with others and for readers to recognize their own experiences in my poetry. I aim to highlight the importance of appreciating small joys and finding peace in nature, family, and community. It is my desire for readers to have a deeper insight into me beyond my career in the film industry.
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HAPPYAGONY – A Collection of Poems by MEM FERDA
Happy Agony is a heartfelt collection of poetry that explores the many facets of life, from love and grief to the societal pressures we face. Through its five themed sections, the book captures the emotional highs and lows of human experience. Each poem offers a glimpse into deeply personal moments, and Ferda’s vivid, sometimes raw language brings those moments to life. The poems are poignant, often reflecting on nostalgia, identity, and the complexity of human emotions.
One of the strengths of this collection is how it blends personal history with broader reflections. Take, for example, “Bygone Rebel,” where Ferda reminisces about the reckless thrill of youth, filled with motorbikes, nightclubs, and a rebellious spirit. The line “I worshipped endlessly through the nights” beautifully captures the intoxicating allure of those wild years, but there’s also an underlying sadness that comes with looking back at what’s been lost. This mix of joy and regret makes the poem, and many others in the collection, feel incredibly relatable.
The section The Fallacy of Luxury digs into the superficiality of wealth and fame, which Ferda seems to have intimate experience with. In “Surviving Hollywood,” he paints a grim picture of the celebrity lifestyle, writing, “Injecting to numb the pain of this life, the constant pressure to keep up the façade.” Ferda makes you feel the disillusionment, and it left me reflecting on how easily people lose themselves chasing unattainable ideals.
On the flip side, Ferda’s reflections on grief are some of the most moving in the book. “A Mother’s Passing” speaks of the loss of his mother, and the emotions he shares are so raw they almost pull you in. You can feel the weight of sorrow in lines like “Tear-filled eyes and heavy hearts gathered around the well that night,” where he mourns both the literal and metaphorical wells of his life running dry. His poems on grief aren’t just about mourning the dead but about the smaller losses in life that shape who we are.
Happy Agony is an emotional rollercoaster, best suited for readers who enjoy poetry that isn’t afraid to explore vulnerability and complex feelings. The collection is perfect for anyone who enjoys introspective poetry with a mix of raw honesty and a dash of nostalgia.
Pages: 208 | ISBN : 1836280394
LITERARY TITAN 