At Thirty Minutes Past One and Other Poems

At Thirty Minutes Past One

When I received a copy of Santosh Bakaya’s new book, At Thirty Minutes Past One and Other Poems, I was at first drawn to the book’s front cover, a striking piece of art with its vibrant colours and vivid images.

The book’s title also drew me in, as it conjured up ideas of a sort of poetic, cascading dreamscape.

The poems themselves, which make up this collection, live up to my expectations and are well-structured, reflecting the craftsmanship we have come to expect from Santosh Bakaya’s work.

The book is filled with a variety of beautifully written poems that help to create a seamless read from start to finish. One minute, you might be floating along, bouncing lightly on the surface of some musings or recollections, while at other times, you are pulled deep into a subconscious stream of past thoughts and experiences that linger and refuse to go away. Make no mistake, this is a collection of cleverly worked poems.

Santosh provides us yet again with a collection of poetry that is rich in both imagery and language. She uses her craft as a writer skillfully, interplaying the technical aspects of poetry while at the same time making it accessible to all. Her reading and life experiences also shine through in this collection, as she quotes lines from both the literary and musical worlds, which add multiple layers to her work and provide the reader with something else they can grasp and relate to.

Nature is another big feature in this collection, whether it’s the shadows and shapes that come to life on the walls or the sounds that echo in the dark of night. Through these poems, we see that although we often refer to the early hours of the morning as the “dead of night,” it is actually a time that is alive and, in some ways, more enchanting and unpredictable than what we might experience during our daylight hours. It is also a time for pondering life, asking questions, having conversations with ourselves, reflecting, and tapping into our imaginations and creativity.

I enjoyed reading this poetry collection, not just for its literary prowess, but more so for its ability to move and also heal.

Two of the poems that particularly stayed with me are ‘An Ode to Cockroaches’ and ‘Hey, What Is That?’ In the former, an allegorical piece, I loved the subtle layers and myriad nuances woven into the verses. In the latter, I was captivated by the playfulness of her language and the delightful way she writes about words dancing a flamenco of their own.

I always ask myself a question after reading a book, whether it is a book of prose or poetry, and that question is: “Have I learnt something from my experience?” On reflection, after reading this book, my answer is an unequivocal YES! Not only do I feel I have learnt more about the poet as an artist, but I have also learnt much more about myself and the world around me.

At Thirty Minutes Past One and Other Poems
By Santosh Bakaya
Publisher: AuthorsPress 2025
Price: ₹295
Available on: Amazon
 

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About the Author

Ant Mac ( 1 Post)

An author and poet, Ant Mac has been writing for over thirty years for both adults and children. He has been published in a number of poetry magazines, journals and anthologies, including The Wise Owl, The Coffee People, The Pavement Magazine, Eclipse Lit, The Space Cadet Fiction Review and Open Door. He has also written two children’s books and published three collections of poetry, his most recent being Down the Hatch: A Rhyming History of Drinks and The Body’s Politics: Mind, Body and Soul, which were published in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
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