“I Wrote Myself Under The Moonlight” by Wani Ibtisaam ,is a heartfelt non-fiction work that explores personal experiences and reflections. With gratitude towards his parents, the author shares his story, offering a glimpse into his life and emotions. The book’s themes and style are likely to resonate with readers seeking authentic, relatable narratives.
The author expresses gratitude in the acknowledgments to those who supported his journey.
Acknowledgments
Family Support : Wani Ibtisaam thanks his parents for their love and support, making everything possible.
Friends and Teachers: Friends kept his grounded, and teachers like Syed Ishfaq sir introduced his to new things.
Inspiration: His cousin Imbisat Tareen’s book “The Inner Voice” was a source of inspiration.
Publisher : Gratitude to the publisher for taking a risk on the book.
Themes and Style:
The book appears to touch on themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and emotional expression, resonating with readers seeking authentic narratives.Ibtisaam’s writing style is described as engaging, with some reviewers noting the language could benefit from polishing in certain areas.
The author’s use of imagery and metaphor is particularly noteworthy, creating vivid scenes that readers can immerse themselves in.
This book, I Wrote Myself Under The Moonlight, is a collection of 22 poems by Wani Ibtisaam. The poems are described as “bleeding, weak, and real”. They don’t rely on fancy words but rather a sense of immediacy. The author shares their experiences and existence rather than writing traditional poetry.
In poems like MY RUINS and I Remember , the young poet explores feelings of being lost and questioning one’s own existence. The speaker feels “dead” in their room and describes a state of “decomposing alive” where their heart and blood are running out of them. It conveys a feeling of being neither fully alive nor completely gone.
The later poem is a nostalgic look back at childhood. The speaker remembers being a “teddy bear,” small and soft, spending their days in a rocking cradle. They recall a time of innocence, asking “what’s that?” about everything, and growing up like a prince who got everything he wished for. The poem ends with a simple, powerful statement of remembrance: “I still remember!”.
He also recalls his school memories in the poem “ THE LAST BENCH “This poem reminisces about school days and the camaraderie shared with friends. It describes the anticipation of break time, when the students would laugh and speak “all kinds of nonsense”. The “wooden bench of memories” symbolizes the bond and shared experiences of learning, solving problems, eating, and playing together. The speaker notes how all of those experiences have now become memories.
In the poem BACKBONE he is praising his friends .The speaker describes meeting friends as a stranger in a “tiny classroom”. They highlight the emotional connection, where their “souls were same” despite their bodies being different. The friends console each other when they feel low and have a trust and bond that has been “dug in our soul” over thirteen years. The speaker concludes that the
word “backbone” will always mean them.
In the poems like “THE MOON and IN THE ABSENCE OF THE MOON” The speaker says the moon is “Too far but…. still close…very close” and is “dug deep inside my chest”. The moon’s radiant light is described as a source of care and love that makes the speaker’s heart beat. The poem concludes with a wish to become the moon’s protector and continue the journey “forever, and ever” with the moon as a guide. A companion to the ist poem, the later one explores what happens when the moon disappears. While the moon is usually the sole focus, its absence allows every star to shine brighter and try to “steal my attention”. Despite this, the speaker still misses the moon, its beauty, love, and care.
I feel incredibly proud of my cousin, Wani Ibtisaam, for writing this beautiful book and sharing his authentic self with the world. The poems are a testament to his talent and heart, offering a raw and honest glimpse into his experiences. This collection is a powerful reflection of his inner world, and it’s a privilege to see his words come to life. I wish him all the success he deserve and hope that this book finds a wide audience who can connect with its moving poetry.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
IMBISAT TAREEN is a Medical student and can be reached at imbisattareen@gmail.com
