Madhu’s poems have a universal quality that connects to your core and elevates your mind. — Evan Mack

Madhu’s poetry traveled faster than light, from his heart to my heart. From his soul to my soul. — Argyris Xafis

With one poem Madhu Raghavendra brought the artists of the world together at a time when our work was publicly devalued. — Laura Strickling

...a keening battle cry in the time of Covid-19, one that earns the author the title of Poet Laureate for an impending post-pandemic society. — Sam McGovern

[Madhu’s poetry] strikes me an act of revolution, a revolt against the ordinary, against complacency, against the casual acceptance of things as they are when we can be so much better. — Stanley Grill

Most of the poems in this collection were written in 2020, when the world was drowning in the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The poems germinated from the blurred line between poetry and journaling, out of the collective agony we experienced during the pandemic. There was barely any point of reference to such mass grief in my lifetime. On the one hand, there were increasing numbers of morbidity and mortality worldwide, on the other, those under lockdown were circulating fake videos of dolphins returning to Venetian canals and wildlife taking over deserted cities. There was not much sense to be made other than staying put and bouncing between bed — living room — television. Phone screens being an addictive constant.

This program will be moderated by fellow poet, Kyle McCord.

About the Author…..

Madhu Raghavendra has authored three books of poetry Make Me Some Love To Eat, Stick No Bills, and Being Non-essential, published by Red River, New Delhi. He is the founder of Poetry Couture, a movement that has created free spaces for poetry in many cities of India, including the North East. He uses performance poetry as a tool to advocate human and environmental rights. He regularly curates and reads for the American Center libraries in India. He collaborates with global artists to create cross disciplinary poetry experiences. His poems have been set to classical music and contemporary dance. His works have been featured in many literary journals. He was a resident artist at Basar Confluence. His poems have been translated into many languages. Madhu will be participating as resident poet at 2021 Spring International Writing Program, The University of Iowa.