Vanity Pains

Scott Haas:


These poems show talent and vigor.  Both through observation of political occurrences as well as by introspection, Brinda Rao-Pothuraju pairs idealism with deft use of language.  And more than youthful passion and vitality, she demonstrates an inchoate sense of belonging—her restless intellect demonstrates her accurate sense that what she sees and hears require her involvement as an observer who can tell others what she senses.  This is a lovely collection of poems.


Scott Haas is a writer and clinical psychologist based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.  He is the author of “Hearing Voices: Reflections of a Psychology Intern” (Dutton), “Are We There Yet?” (Plume), “Back of the House” (Berkley/Penguin), and “Those Immigrants!” (Fingerprint!/Prakesh).  He is the co-author of  “Da Silvano” (Bloomsbury).  He won a James Beard award for his on-air broadcasts on “Here and Now,” a nationally syndicated show National Public Radio.   .


Jennifer Darger: 


Brinda is a gifted writer and a profound thinker.  Her choice of words paints a vivid image of emotion and place.  Her verses help her readers to view life with more sensitive eyes.  “His shoes were nets, catching ambition.”  She brings her reader not just to her profound observations but awakens a sense of discovery that exposes untapped wisdom.  Reading Brinda’s writings inspired in me a desire to be a more observant sojourner.  As Brinda writes of one of her subjects, she, too, is able to “gargle words and spit out art.”

  

Jennifer practices tort law in New York City and is President of the Board of Education, Edgemont  Free Union School District in Scarsdale NY