Efflorescence 2025 - Chennai Poetry Circle - 18 Jan 2026 - 25th Edition Release - Happy to be part of the Anthology Launched #UmasreeRaghunath #Anthologies

 https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/anthology-by-chennai-poets-circle-released-it-features-60-poets/article70533937.ece

Efflorescence 2025 – Umasree Raghunath

Poem Title:  Happiness Matters

Looking out through the window,

I watch the doves conferencing the pane

What would they be talking?

I wondered and felt happy above disdain

Health, I compromised unthoughtfully!

With it, my happiness vanished gleefully

Stress, was my constant companion

Sharing my space, meals and every tension

Pleasing people, was my go-to goal in life

Less did I know, that I can please all like a wife

Targets, Milestones, is what I thought matter

Pleasures of life took its backseat to batter

Every invite honoured, every event attended

I felt like the Guest of Honour with smile intended

Then, the hospital bed invited me with glory

I embraced the needles and medicines in fury

Tears rolled down, when I no longer mattered

To everything I thought I am indispensable!

In no time, people forgot I exist, except family

And few best friends who still adore me in ally

A silent lesson, creeped up in life

That nothing but your inner peace and happiness

Is all that matters, for you and your own

No matter, what position, title or money you hold

Don’t rush to do hundred things, but few

That makes you happy and lets you be healthy

Be like those doves conferencing on the window

Instead of being your own fake shadow

Be a person, who can smile with happiness

Spread peace, spread joy and live life!

Book Launched on 18 Jan 2026

Chennai Poets’ Circle conducts Annual Seminar and Launch of the Anthology ‘Efflorescence 2022’ at T. Nagar TAG Auditorium- 22 Jan 2023

 After three years Chennai Poets’ Circle had their annual seminar at T Nagar on a Sunday morning  22 Jan 2023.   

Chennai Poet Circle is a 25-year-old organization with members all over India and abroad and its annual seminar is an event for its high-profile speakers and professional conduct of the event and comraderies the members share, a close-knit relationship they cherish. This year it was held on 22.1.2023 in its annual seminar at TAG Auditorium, Ramakrishna Mission School at T.Nagar, Chennai.

 The annual anthology 'Efflorescence 2022' consisting of poems from 103 poets and 9 young poets are included in this collection. It was a mind-blowing experience to listen to the young poets, as young as 7 years old and definitely Poetry is safe in their hands.  

Dr. V. Rajagopalan, retd HOD of English department Madras Christian College was the chief guest avd addressed the gathering with his scintillating speech. Paper presentations by Saranya Francis and Vishnupriya started the poetry session.

 Famous poets Pankajam Kollareth poem’ The Fire of Passion’, Umasree Raghunath’s ‘Shakthi’ are also included in the anthology. Hema Ravi,  the curator / editor of the anthology Efflorescence 22, and all editorial advisors did a great job and were present at the occasion

Efflorescene 2021 - Chennai Poetry Circle - Virtual Launch and Annual Seminar 11 Feb 2022

 

Efflorescence 2022

 Poem Title:  Shakthi

 

 O’ mighty Woman,

Wake up from weird thoughts

to kills the inner demons

Do away with those outside

Fierce like the fire in rage

Spread your wings afar

with the roaring bliss

that every woman not to miss

 

O’ mighty Woman

Let the tears flow free

myriads of the unspoken flee

fade away with the tears

chasing away all your fears

Arising high above the common

There is no way to die

Up, arise and shine

 

O’ mighty Woman

choice to live is yours

the way you want to glow

shun the age-old practices

no matter how and where

Powerful and merciful

glowing bright & wonderful

Be yourself, a vibrant Shakthi

 

Poem 2- Diversity

 

 

I sat at the sea, unable to see

my thoughts lingering like waves

with the broken shells touching my feet

I could feel the rising sun rays

Lifted my guitar up to sing

lyrics and notes all along ring

I may be blind, but with heart I can see

the world that stood with me!

 

I tried to stand up and walk

to the beach waves drenching my feet

Alas, my wheelchair, it doesn’t let me

Silently I sat at the bridge

watching children play

Imagining God’s foul way

of creating me, different

Yet, I ‘stood’ strong vibrant!!

 

I could see him shout at me

Yet my ears are deafened to hear him

His lips dancing words

wanted to answer him loud

but dumb voices cannot be heard

closed my eyes, in ardent prayer

leaving behind all my fears

my eyes opened, conveying all that it can

 

Each one of us, have a story

of grit, wisdom, and fury

Respect the indifferences around

making this world profound

Embrace the diversity

to live in unified dignity

Broken, yes, we all are!

Together we can, make our own Ikigai!!!

  

About the Poet:

 

Umasree Raghunath is a Senior IT Director, Author/ Blogger/ Poet/ Lawyer/ Diversity & Inclusion Social Activist/ Motivational Speaker, Past President - Inner Wheel Club of Madras South, President-eWIT (Empowering Women in IT), Chennai, India.   

Umasree has close to 400 poems across various themes, 800+ blog posts, several short stories, 2 published books – ‘Simply Being Sidds’ and ‘After the Floods’ and several articles on various subjects, situations and emotions and been writing since she was 13 years old.   She is also having a live blog in her own name. And part of several poetry anthologies of both National and International repute.