Poet Tialila Kikon launches two new books in Dimapur, highlighting haiku, nature, and emotional reflections.
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DIMAPUR — Tialila Kikon’s latest works, “Lemons and sunflowers and all things yellow” and “My Haiku heart”, were released as the 118th and 119th publications of PenThrill Publication House.
The launch event took place at Tia Ki Nagaland Art Space in Dimapur on Saturday.
This is her sixth and seventh poetry book respectively and the first one she is launching in public.
Kikon, who is a poet, author and educator, said her poems are like prints of her emotions—some born from sadness and bitterness, some from loneliness, which we all are sometimes and some from awe of nature's mysteries.
Inspired by the seasons, love, life and human nature, she crafts Haiku in her own little world. She plays with words, counting syllables—5, 7, 5—and let her poems take shape.
“My haiku heart is a collection of ninety-nine fleeting moments and emotions put together in the succinct soul of a haiku. Each haiku is a gentle reminder to live fully, love deeply, forgive often, and to gracefully accept the ever-changing rhythm of life,” the poet said.
“Lemons and sunflowers and all things yellow is a silent invitation to feel my soulscape as I traverse empty spaces in between the chaos and uncertainties of life to find calm and beauty in the everyday moments that often go unnoticed.”
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Writing poetry, for her, is a process of discovery and a way of making sense of the world and herself through an engagement with the natural world.
It reflects her understanding that light and darkness are not separate, and that both are necessary for life to be complete.
Publisher Vishü Rita Krocha stated that good literature broadens understanding and enables people to think beyond personal experiences. She said that without it, there is a risk of developing a narrow-minded perspective.
She added that when writing reaches the world, it gives voice to a people or community.
Krocha also said that great civilisations thrive on their literature, which preserves history, teaches lessons, and shapes national identity.
She noted that this holds particular relevance as Nagaland begins reclaiming its narratives, adding that finding its voice is crucial.
In her special remarks, independent researcher and editor Dr. Vizovono Elizabeth lauded Kikon for doing something that is often overlooked.
Acknowledging her dedication to writing, consistency and persistence, she called Kikon a poet who finds beauty in everything.
Elizabeth stated that creative writers struggle to make their voices heard and reach their target audience, adding that encouragement, support and acknowledgment are crucial for their growth.
She pointed out that the state lacks a nurturing ecosystem for creative expressions.
She expressed concerns about the lack of appreciation for art in Naga society, stating that the value of art extends beyond literature and writing to other forms of creative expression. “The value of art is yet to be discovered by the Nagas, despite having numerous talented individuals,” she said, adding that these artists are often left feeling like misfits in society.
Nagaland University, Medziphema campus, Professor Jungmayangla Longkumer, in her book review, stated that the structure of a haiku in English typically follows a three-line, 5-7-5 syllable pattern, originated in Japan and now written in many languages worldwide.
She said haiku traditionally focus on nature and the seasons, but modern versions explore a wide range of topics, and that writing haiku poems requires great skill to bring out the structure, emotion and play of words encapsulated in three lines within 17 syllables, which she credited has been effectively done by the poet Kikon.
Across her poetry, Longkumer noted that nature takes centre stage, revealing a reflective bond between human life and the natural world, while emphasising themes of healing, growth, and the continuous cycle of existence.