Thus Sang the Bluebirds

Bluebirds dart out in sorties singing in open skies, as the poetess quills verses effortlessly, riding the orb of her beautiful mind, piloting pristine poésie of introspection. Her trysts with love, sometimes wistful and sometimes overflowing with love gushing from the depths of her soul, will leave the reader brimming with the delight of her exquisite language.

70 poems leave a wake of ineffable reflections after perusal of "Thus Sang the Bluebirds", in the blue beyond. Toolika's brilliant observations from life rephrase themselves weaving a saga of the complexity of love, greatly reminiscent of John Updike's insights on love.

The reader would feel that each poem is meant for one's own heart. An exhilarating roller coaster ride that flies in tandem with the poet's spontaneous thoughts on love, life and soliloquies of the pining heart, resonates in this beautiful poetry collection. — Geethanjali Dilip

"A book that's challenging, mindful and surely made me think about the basics of life. An important collection that strikes hard, but also stores a good warmth." — Kabir Deb, Poet, Book Reviewer and Editor

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Amor vincit omnia!

One of the most abiding emotions of all living creatures has witnessed tumults unimaginable and withstood the storms to bask in the scarlet shade of the blossoms that follow.

Dip your toes tentatively in the lukewarm waters of love until the warmth of your own heartbeats generates the heat that soothes the nerves, relaxes you and transports you to the realm of bliss that only love can offer.

Feel these poems taking you on a wave that sinks deep and rides high to form a compelling combination of wild intoxication and subtle understandings.

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Squadron Leader (Dr) Toolika Rani is an ex-Indian Air Force Officer, Mountaineer (Everest Climber), International Motivational Speaker (twice TEDx), Author, Poet, Assistant Professor of History, and was also the G-20 Brand Ambassador of Higher Education Department, U.P. Government (2023).

Her books include Beyond That Wall: Redemption on Everest (2021), Sherpas of Solukhumbu: History and Evolution (2023), two collections of Hindi poems titled, Dayron ke Bahar (2023) and Hasratein (2024), two English poetry books titled, The Song of the Sky (2023) and A Wild Flower (2024).

She has edited an International Anthology of poems on Himalaya, titled, The Mountain was Abuzz, which was displayed at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival 2024.