The poems that appear in Moonstruck Pilgrim, have been chosen from three different Bengali poetry collections of Abhijit Palchoudhuri. The collection is not a random amalgamation of the individual verses. Rather, there is a subtle, loosely bound sequence which gently nudges the reader to begin a journey through the world of the poet and, in the process, discover their own universe and identity. The poems are housed in four different sections.
Section 1 - The Pilgrim
The Poet As The Seeker- The poems here are self-reflective, but they have a sense of restlessness, where the poet is the seeker and is impatient to find a meaning, a sense in the universe. There is hope, despair, and again hope in these verses as the pilgrim begins the inward journey
Section 2- Moon Drenched
The Poet As The Lover- The poems here, highlight Nature's role in shaping the soul and the sensitivities of the seeker. They are subtle, and soothing - and offer shelter to the weary pilgrim from the previous section.
Section 3- The Journey
The Poet As The Sailor - As the name suggests, this section depicts the journey itself- the experience gathered, and the priceless insight . The stormy obstacles, and the springs of light. Hope dying. Hope reborn. The voyage of the thirsty Self.
Section 4 - The Poet
The Poet As The Poet - In this section, the pilgrim, through the journey, has finally discovered the poet in him. The poet he
always was. His identity. He's finally free.
It is not necessary to read the poems in sequence. The readers may choose to begin their journey from a different point altogether. And thus define their own pilgrimage.
