Regret Poem By R Parthasarathy Summary Link

💔 Key lines to feel:

R. Parthasarathy’s poem “Regret” (from his collection Rough Passage ) explores the pain of failed communication and emotional distance in a relationship. The speaker reflects on a past love or friendship, acknowledging his own inability to express feelings at the right time. He realizes that silence and hesitation have led to permanent loss. The poem contrasts the past (“what might have been”) with the present’s hollow clarity. Key imagery includes doors closing, unspoken words hardening into stone, and the irreversible passage of time. The tone is introspective, melancholic, and resigned—regret here is not loud grief but the quiet, heavy knowledge of a chance forever missed.

The second stanza expands the image:

The poem "Regret" is best understood as the resolution to the three stages of the poet's life:

: He reflects on the "debris" of his past, realizing he is no longer the young man who set out to find himself in the West. regret poem by r parthasarathy summary

The central theme is the trade-off between childhood innocence and adult maturity. Parthasarathy describes innocence as an "embarrassing gift," suggesting that while it is precious, it often feels out of place or awkward in the "real" world of adulthood. The "scramble to be man" implies a rushed, perhaps forced, transition where the beauty of youth is sacrificed for the sake of societal expectations or personal ambition.

R. Parthasarathy is a poet acutely aware of the schism between his Tamil heritage and his English education. He famously spoke of the "tongue in chains"—the difficulty of expressing Indian sensibilities through the English language. "Regret" is a poem that emerges directly from this conflict. 💔 Key lines to feel: R

In the wider narrative of his poetry, Parthasarathy often explores the "rough passage" of an Indian poet writing in English. His regret isn't just about aging; it’s about: