The Curse Of Letting Go
“Because letting go isn’t the end – it’s the beginning of carrying pain differently.”
Prashant Paras’ The Curse Of Letting Go is a tender, deeply evocative collection of poems that explores the silent dimensions of love, loss, and longing. Divided into six thematically rich chapters – Before the Goodbye, While Letting Go, After She Left, Whispers to the Wind, Love Letters Never Sent, and The Endings We Don’t Speak Of – the book flows like a river through moments of blooming romance, heartbreaking separation, and philosophical reflections on life’s impermanence.
The language in this collection is simple yet powerfully honest. Each poem reads like a page from the diary of someone who has loved deeply and lost silently. There are no attempts to embellish grief with heavy metaphors; rather, Paras allows the rawness of pain to stand unadorned. For instance, in the lines:
“You pulled me close like gravity,
now you scatter like dust.”
– the imagery is minimal, but the emotional impact is profound. The poet masterfully captures how love that once anchored us can suddenly leave us feeling weightless, unmoored, and directionless.
One of the most poignant aspects of this book is its gentle exploration of unspoken emotions. Poems like “Is it okay if I replay our old chats…” and “She loves me…She loves me not…” will resonate with anyone who has ever scrolled through old conversations just to feel close to someone who is no longer there. The authenticity of these experiences creates an intimate bond between the poet and the reader.
The chapter While Letting Go particularly stands out for its exploration of inner conflict and emotional confusion. The poem about coffee tasting bitter despite changing blends and cafes reflects the universal truth that when something is broken within us, nothing outside feels right either. Paras writes:
“At last, I saw: it wasn’t the coffee, nor the place –
it was me.”
Such lines make the reader pause, introspect, and perhaps even find a mirror for their own concealed grief.
In After She Left, the haunting loneliness of the poet’s voice is almost tangible. One poem that moved me deeply reads:
“She never knew I loved her – now the stars know her name,
And I curse the road that took her, but not the love that came.”
Here, the poet conveys the pain of unexpressed love, the eternal regret of missed chances, and yet, a dignified acceptance that love itself was worth it, even if it ended in silence.
The philosophical reflections scattered throughout The Endings We Don’t Speak Of show the poet’s maturity and depth. Lines like:
“In search of poison, one day I myself will become the poison.”
reveal the darkness grief can create within us, transforming pain into a habit, and sadness into an identity.
However, what makes this collection unique is its ability to balance darkness with moments of serene surrender. In Whispers to the Wind and Love Letters Never Sent, there are prayers, unsent messages, and poetic letters to God – all echoing the universal human need to be heard, held, and healed.
Stylistically, the book maintains a consistent narrative voice – calm, conversational, almost like a friend sharing his truths on a quiet evening. The poems vary in length but remain accessible to readers from all walks of life, especially young adults, heartbroken lovers, and seekers of philosophical solace.
Critique:
While the simplicity of language is its strength, some poems could have benefitted from tighter editing for punctuation and typographical consistency. At times, the casual syntax felt more like diary scribbles than finalised poems. However, one could argue this lends authenticity to the collection, making it feel deeply personal and unpolished in the best sense – like a raw wound still healing.
Overall Impression:
The Curse Of Letting Go is not just a poetry book; it is a journey through the silent goodbyes that remain etched in our hearts long after people leave. It reminds us that letting go is not about forgetting; it is about learning to carry memories in ways that no longer break us every morning.
If you have ever loved someone with your whole being, waited endlessly, or felt the suffocating emptiness after love fades, these poems will become your own reflections. Prashant Paras writes not to impress but to connect – to hold your broken parts in his words and tell you that letting go, though painful, is also a hidden art of survival.
Recommended for:
Readers of contemporary poetry, emotional literature, and all those who seek healing in words.
Title: The Curse Of Letting Go : A Journey Through Silent Goodbyes
Author: Prashant Paras
Publisher: Evincepub Publishing
Pages 145
