Kunjana Parashar’s debut collection emphasizes quiet observation of ordinary creatures and coexistence with nature.
Kunjana Parashar’s debut poetry collection, They Gather Around Me, the Animals, has garnered the 2024 Barbara Stevens Poetry Book Award. This work presents a unique perspective, inviting readers to find the extraordinary within the ordinary. Rather than calling for urgency or activism, which often characterizes contemporary ecopoetry, Parashar adopts a tone of radical humility that is deeply rooted in attentive observation and an appreciation for the mundane aspects of nature.
The collection features poems such as “Dedication”, “Prayer”, and “Wait”, which establish a contemplative atmosphere. Parashar’s approach is not prescriptive; instead, she emphasizes her commitment to the everyday lives of nature’s beings. Her poems are rich with activities like waiting, listening, and exploring the depths of moss, reflecting a profound connection to the simplicity of the natural world.
What distinguishes this collection is its focus on the unspectacular. The animals referenced in the title are not the grand figures often portrayed in nature documentaries. Instead, Parashar brings attention to sewer gnats, frogs, cabbage moths, millipedes, and lizards. These creatures are not employed as symbols for human emotions or political statements; they exist as themselves, deserving recognition in their own right throughout the poems.
This perspective highlights a philosophical approach that permeates the book. While many ecopoetic works assert authority over the natural world, Parashar’s style is notably playful. She expresses a heartfelt connection to Mumbai’s intertidal zone, illustrating that one does not need to be an environmentalist to appreciate nature. The essence of her message is that love for the natural world is essential for its understanding.
In the poem “On Not Cleaning the Bathroom”, Parashar reflects on the decision to leave damp corners untouched, revealing the small lives of sewer gnats and millipedes. This observation is devoid of sentimentality; instead, it acknowledges a shared existence. The line, “Who am I to ruin the unity of things for the sake of a sanitary impulse…” transforms the bathroom into a microcosm of coexistence, a reminder of the subtle interactions between human and nonhuman lives.
Another poignant piece, “Amphibian”, features a frog as the speaker, conveying its history predating humanity. The closing line, “before the lust of your colonisation: came mine”, encapsulates a realistic depiction of coexistence and human oblivion toward the natural world. Through her poetry, Parashar grants autonomy to these creatures, prompting readers to contemplate what it means to share space without necessitating comprehension.
This emphasis on coexistence rather than comprehension is pivotal to the collection’s core. Parashar’s animals remain elusive to the human gaze, treated with proximity rather than exoticism. The speaker observes without interference, challenging the tendencies to anthropomorphize or objectify. Her language is precise and tactile, enhancing the reader’s sensory engagement with the text.
Despite the collection’s understated nature, Parashar’s work is not without depth. The poems convey a metaphysical resonance, recognizing the thresholds between self and world. In “Dewing”, frogs are described as “Guardians of the threshold between water, dream, and lung”, highlighting the interconnectedness of existence.
Parashar does not assume authority; instead, her speaker embodies a tone of fallibility and humility. The poems do not reach definitive conclusions; they linger in ambiguity, echoing the complexity of the natural world. This refusal to provide neat resolutions is a deliberate artistic choice, reflecting the entangled relationship between the domestic and the natural.
They Gather Around Me, the Animals stands as a testament to ecological humility and restraint. Parashar challenges readers to look closer at the ordinary aspects of life, suggesting that understanding may not always be within reach. Through her exploration of coexistence, she offers a nuanced meditation on the intricate relationships between humans and the nonhuman world.
