Title: America Thy Simmering Agony
Author: Ramesh Sharma
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 1728332052
Pages: 140
Genre: Poetry
Reviewed By: Dan MacIntosh

Read Book Review

Ramesh Sharma’s book includes plenty of this writer’s poetry, but it’s so much more
than that. These various pieces also express Sharma’s strong patriotic feelings and
political leanings. As the word “agony” in its title makes clear, Sharma is pained by
much of what he sees happening in the United States these days. Primarily written in
2019, these various works are (almost) up-to-the-minute-current, and often feel like
fresh editorials in a newspaper opinion section.

Of course, Sharma is a poet, not a mere pundit, which is why these written thoughts are
more imaginative than the press’s mere opinions on contemporary politics. Sharma also
approaches his politics by also distinctly mixing in his spirituality. In the book’s About
The Author section at the end of this project, we’re reminded of how Sharma proposed
with his prior two books that America be formally declared a Hindu State. Knowing this,
one might be surprised at just how much Sharma is a political conservative. Although he
never mentions the current president by name, Sharma’s views on immigration, for
instance, are right in line with Trump’s policies.

Sharma’s conservative points of view come through loud and clear with the book’s
longest piece, “This Is California!,” which is placed early in the book. In it, Sharma works
in multiple Republican talking points that support firm immigration policies. These
include stopping the flow of drugs, keeping out terrorists and generally making America
safe from various foreign threats. Sadly, those who believe in strong, deterrent borders
are oftentimes characterized as ethnocentric racists. However, many of those holding
these opinions are, in fact, all for immigration – if it’s done legally. After all, all countries
have immigration laws. This doesn’t mean they hate foreigners; they just want
immigration to occur reasonably and in an orderly fashion.

This book features multiple pointed political pieces. Additionally, though, Sharma also
shares his more generalized philosophies with readers. One titled “My Poems,” for
instance, sums up the aim of his poetry. “My poems are not mere words and
phrases/Neither are they vapid and vacuous sentences,” he tells us at the poem’s
outset. “They are the vibration of my Soul,” he continues, “Since my Soul is immortal.” In
these few short sentences, the reader gets a sense of Sharma’s spiritual perspective.
Sharma is not at all afraid to address some of the biggest of all philosophical questions.
Why else, then, would the title another one of his poems, “Definition of a Human.”? This
one begins with the statement: “Behind the ugliness of imperfection/Is hidden the
beauty of perfection.” These words sum up much of the mystery of humanity. Humans
are far from perfect, but in their best moments, and in their best behavior, they reveal
hints of perfection hidden somewhere deep within.

Obviously, one of the human imperfections at the top of Sharma’s concerns is
misguided political opinions. He loves his country and cannot understand why so many
others don’t love America the way he dearly loves it.

Be forewarned: If you’re decidedly on the American political left, you may find Ramesh
Sharma’s poems to be fighting words. However, one of America’s great constitutional
traits is its freedom of speech. With America Thy Simmering Agony, Sharma is
exercising his free speech right and sharing what’s on his heart – albeit, done so quite
poetically. Whether you agree or disagree with Sharma, you can never discount his
passion. This passion is a good thing. It shows he cares, and cares deeply. Deeply
enough, in fact, to express his agony through art.