A Tapestry of the Senses: Imagery in Unwinding Self

Abstract

This article explores the multi-faceted function of imagery in Susheel Kumar Sharma’s poetry collection, Unwinding Self (2020). Departing from a simplistic understanding of imagery as mere poetic ornamentation, this study posits that Sharma’s use of a complex array of visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory devices constitutes a core element of his thematic and philosophical inquiry. The imagery, far from being static, is dynamic and often contradictory, serving as a primary vehicle for the poet’s trenchant critique of modernity, his profound engagement with spiritual and existential questions, and his exploration of the human condition. Through the systematic juxtaposition of natural and urban landscapes, ancient mythological symbols and contemporary socio-political realities, and the tangible world of everyday objects with the abstract realm of human emotion, Sharma crafts a “kaleidoscopic scenario” that mirrors the complexity of the Unwinding Self. This analysis demonstrates how the poet’s arresting and often surprising imagery is essential to his project of healing and strengthening the reader by transforming “micro-concrete moments of conflicting life events, into a macro-cosmic experience.” Sharma’s meticulous sensory tapestry heightens reader attentiveness, deepening engagement with text and reality to fuse aesthetic and ethical purpose.