Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3 out of 5)
I picked up Chasing The Dawn on an evening when I was already a little emotionally tired. You know those days when the news feels heavy, conversations feel rushed, and you start wondering whether people still slow down long enough to care about each other. I was not looking for anything grand. Honestly I just wanted something human. Something that would not pretend the world is perfect but would not leave me hopeless either.
Within the first few poems, I realized this was not a collection you skim. It asks you to pause. Sometimes to sit with discomfort. Sometimes to sit with hope that feels fragile but stubborn. As someone who has spent over fifteen years reading manuscripts at Deified Publication, I have learned that poetry about social issues can easily become preachy or abstract. This one mostly avoids that trap. It speaks directly, almost conversationally, like someone sitting across from you and saying this matters, please do not look away.
What the Book Is About
At its core, this anthology by Dr. Abhinav Majumder gathers fifty one poems that revolve around injustice, resilience, compassion, and the possibility of change. That might sound broad, but the poems themselves are very grounded. They talk about real wounds. Children who suffer in silence. Women fighting to be seen. People trapped in addiction. Those pushed to the margins until they become invisible.
One of the opening pieces, The Silent Cries, struck me immediately. There is an image of hidden alleys, closed doors, tiny feet walking paths of agony. It is not graphic. It does not need to be. The restraint makes it heavier. The mention of a teddy bear as a witness broke something in me a little. I have seen enough real life stories to know that objects in a room sometimes carry more truth than words.
Another poem, A Woman’s Worth, shifts the focus to gender and dignity. There is anger in it, yes, but also pride. The line about a woman writing her story and turning wrongs into right stayed with me long after I closed the page. It reminded me of the many authors I mentor who have fought quietly for years before finding their voice.
The collection continues in this pattern. Breaking Chains speaks about trafficking and captivity without sensationalizing suffering. Forgotten Faces paints the loneliness of homelessness in stark, almost cinematic snapshots. Shadows Of Addiction refuses to frame addiction as moral weakness and instead calls it an illness that needs care. Reading these back to back feels like walking through different rooms of the same house of pain and hope.
What impressed me is that the book does not drown in darkness. Nearly every poem leaves a small opening. Not a grand solution, just a possibility. A hand reaching out. A dawn somewhere far but real.
What Stood Out to Me
First, the accessibility of the language. This is not poetry designed to impress academics. It is designed to be understood by someone reading on a train, someone grieving, someone who just needs words that do not talk down to them. In my years reviewing books, I have noticed that simplicity is often mistaken for lack of depth. Here it becomes a strength. The directness makes the emotion harder to dodge.
Second, the consistency of theme without monotony. Writing fifty one poems on social issues could easily feel repetitive. Yet each piece approaches empathy from a different angle. Sometimes through a personal lens, sometimes through collective responsibility, sometimes through quiet observation.
I also noticed a strong moral voice running through the book. Not moralistic, but grounded in a belief that people can do better. Lines that call for awareness, action, kindness. It feels like the author is less interested in literary experimentation and more interested in impact.
That said, I did occasionally wish for more variation in imagery and rhythm. A few poems lean on similar structures or phrasing patterns. This did not ruin the experience for me, but readers who crave stylistic unpredictability might notice it.
Still, there are moments of genuine beauty. In Forgotten Faces, the image of city lights that never warm the night captures urban loneliness perfectly. In Shadows Of Addiction, the idea that healing begins when judgment ends feels painfully true. These are the kinds of lines you underline without thinking.
The Emotional Core
What moved me most was the compassion running through the collection. Not pity. Not anger alone. Compassion that sees suffering and still believes in repair.
The poems about children were especially difficult to read in the best possible way. There is a line about laughter once filling the skies now silenced by muffled cries. I had to put the book down for a minute. As an editor I read difficult stories often, but poetry compresses pain into such small spaces that it hits differently.
Then there are pieces that restore you. A recurring idea appears throughout the book that even broken people carry sparks. That healing may be slow but not impossible. It reminded me of conversations I have had with readers who say they return to poetry not for answers but for companionship.
In 2026, when conversations about mental health, inequality, and social fractures feel louder than ever, this message feels timely. Not because it offers solutions, but because it insists on empathy as a starting point.
I also appreciated that the poems never assume the reader is innocent. Several lines suggest collective responsibility. The idea that silence can be complicity. That awareness alone is not enough. This might make some readers uncomfortable, but perhaps that discomfort is part of the intention.
Who This Book Is For
If you love highly abstract poetry filled with obscure references, this might not be your first choice. The strength of this collection lies in clarity and emotional directness.
However, if you are someone who reads poetry to feel connected to the world rather than escape it, this book may resonate deeply. It would also appeal to readers who appreciate socially conscious writing, educators looking for discussion material, or anyone going through a period of reflection about purpose and empathy.
I can also imagine this book being meaningful for younger readers or students encountering social issues through literature for the first time. The poems are accessible without being simplistic. They open doors rather than overwhelm.
That said, sensitive readers should know that the themes are heavy. Abuse, inequality, addiction, homelessness. The book does not dwell in graphic detail, but the emotional weight is real.
Final Thoughts
As Editor in Chief at Deified Publication, I often ask myself a simple question after finishing a book. Did this change how I feel about people, even a little. With Chasing The Dawn, the answer is yes.
It did not overwhelm me with literary fireworks. It did not try to be clever for its own sake. Instead it did something quieter but harder. It reminded me that behind every statistic is a human life. Behind every headline is a story that never made it to print.
I closed the book feeling both sad and strangely steadier. Like someone had acknowledged the darkness but also left a lamp on.
Is it perfect. No. Some poems blur together in tone. A few ideas repeat. But the sincerity carries it through. You can sense that these words come from a place of genuine concern rather than performance.
If you are looking for poetry that sits beside you rather than impresses you from a distance, this collection might be worth your time. It is the kind of book you return to in fragments. One poem on a difficult morning. Another on a day when you need to remember that people are capable of kindness.
FAQ
Is Chasing The Dawn worth reading
If you appreciate socially conscious poetry that speaks plainly and emotionally, then yes. It may not suit readers seeking experimental forms, but it offers sincerity and heart.
Who should read Chasing The Dawn
Readers interested in themes like justice, resilience, mental health, and compassion. Also educators, students, and anyone who believes words can influence perspective.
Is Chasing The Dawn easy to understand
Yes. The language is accessible and direct. You do not need prior knowledge of poetry to engage with it.
Does the book feel depressing
It deals with difficult subjects, but most poems contain an element of hope or possibility that prevents the collection from feeling overwhelming.
With over 11 years of experience in the publishing industry, Priya Srivastava has become a trusted guide for hundreds of authors navigating the challenging path from manuscript to marketplace. As Editor-in-Chief of Deified Publications, she combines the precision of a publishing professional with the empathy of a mentor who truly understands the fears, hopes, and dreams of both first-time and seasoned writers.