Dr Amjad Parvaiz, Pakistan

Sometimes memories are cherished and sometimes not. In Hamza Hasan Sheikh's case, memories of the idols that disappointed him are still imprinted in his mind. Still, when he opens the museum inside him, he opens the door and hugs those idols (page 11). The book includes poems by Hamza Hasan Sheikh titled 'Museum of Reminiscence' published by Naqshgar, Rawalpindi.`

About the author, Barnard M Jackson from UK observed that Hamza is a forceful young romantic with an eye for light and shade and the minutiae of accompanying description detail, has taken a plunge and gathered together a number of his most preferred poems.`

In a poem he says, 'On the Valentine's day/ I was alone/ In tumult of lovers and beloveds/ Love which took birth/ Last Valentine/ Withered and betrayed/ The people were joyous/ With their lovers and beloveds/ I was just an idol/ Heedless of love'. This poem personifies the simplicity and brevity with which Hamza writes his poems.`

Dedicated to R. K. Singh, the first poem titled 'The Moon' develops the feeling of joy, which vanishes when the moon is lost behind the clouds. But the poet continues that however when beams of the moon fall upon his face like a cool drizzle that seem to appear from paradise. As a sequel to his first poem, Hamza comes out with a four-line poem 'Black Suit' (Page 17). It says 'wearing black suit/ like a dark night/ but her face shone/ like the moon'. In the second poem titled 'Antimony', the poet elaborates the impact of antimony when applied to his beloved's eyes. Here it is pertinent to mention that Professor Ram Krishna Singh from New Delhi says that Hamza has expressed his love yearning, passionate dreams and desires effectively bearing the marks of classical poetry in various themes in his book.`

Poems on love themes are endless in Hamza's repertoire. Hamza hails from Dera Ismail Khan and Pakistani poetry in English are seldom referred in the international fraternity. Bernard M Jackson from England hopes that many of his fellow countrymen will be inspired to follow suit. Continuing with the love theme, Hamza says that it is but natural that one's heart palpitates while seeing one's beloved (Poem: 'To someone we love' (Page 21)). In this frame of mind, he comes across 'snow princess' (Page 22). Seeing her warming hands on the fire while clad in white dress, she looks like princess of snow. Here, Dr. Gauri Shankar Jha's comments are apt that one can appreciate Hamza's poems for its simplicity, eloquence, directness, clarity, honesty and total dedication towards love and only love.`

Hamza being a romantic man naturally keeps on wondering and appreciating nature's beauty. In a poem titled 'I wonder' (Page 82) he wonders about the impact that a drop of rain creates on thirsty land, He wonders what happens when a small leaf separates from its twig, he wonders when the moonlight plays hide and seek with the fireflies, he wonders when first ray of sun touches the earth and he wonders seeing gleam in farmer's eye when he sees his ripe crop. At the same time, Hamza becomes sad when he watches a fallen tree on roadside (Poem: A sad tree' (Page 100)).Dr. Chotte Lal Khatri observes that Hamza is full of tender and unsoiled feelings, emotions and love for nature and his creation.`

Another shade of love is visible in his poem 'Iris' (Page 101). He says 'Her iris makes/everyone to writhe/in which flames/of vengeance flare up/ No one knows/from whom she wants to revenge/perhaps she is seeker of love too'. In this poem vengeance is shown as one aspect of love. In a poem 'Love's errand' Hamza finds it difficult to send messages. He says 'The message of love, voyaging in an ocean of grief/ The cruel world/pushed us in pain's vortex/but our spirits are centered/at one place/ Woes surround us forever/now if you see whirlpool/think that/these may be love's messages/seeking for their love' (Page 81). In this poem disappointment in seeking love is visible, something not seen in Hamza's earlier poems.`

It is an appreciable fact that Hamza whose mother tongue is not English has taken a bold step to say in this language and that too while hailing from a not highly developed cities like Lahore or Karachi. His themes though basically range around love and nature but their sensuousness vary. The sentences needs restructuring her and there and this reviewer feels that this shortcoming shall be overpowered the more he says poems in English. Hamza has managed to make access of his poetry to poets living abroad, especially India and receive very encouraging remarks, making him and his country proud.

            Shades of love!