The third section of “Tome of Stars“ is “Sporogenesis“ , a haphazard chronicle of the years 2011–2020.  It marks a shift from the cataclysm of “Senescence“  into a period of withdrawal and emotional hibernation, its eleven sonnets seeking to reflect the padam of the collection’s bharatanatyam-inspired structure. 

In “Padam”, the poet opens “Sporogenesis” with a sonnet that merges the aesthetic language of classical Indian dance with the emotional register of personal loss. The speaker observes a divine dancer named Shringara, whose name invokes one of the highest rasas in Indian aesthetic theory: the sentiment of love, particularly as expressed through longing, separation, and divine union. As such, the dancer becomes a symbolic embodiment of shringara rasa, a living articulation of sacred love transformed by grief. Her movements, once ecstatic and radiant, have slowed into mournful lament. The poem takes a dual perspective, considering cosmic and emotional landscapes, on a love that once carried mythic force but has since disintegrated into sorrow and fragmentation.

***********
Lyrics

Shringara’s dance, once swift, now softly wanes,
Her pinions furled, she weaves a lovelorn song:
Two spirits twined by fate’s resistless chains,
Spark arcane flames—a bond both fierce and strong.

Lithe limbs with love caress the endless skies,  
Yet sorrow stings her eyes with winter rain. 
Reborn fate’s dungeons, lovers’ last goodbyes,
Rend hearts enveloped in unending pain.

She writhes in torment, star split in the dark,
Her silent scream stretched stark through timeless space.
Grand galaxies are maimed with glowing marks. 
Marred adoration weeps upon her face.

At last, I grasped the pattern in her stars,
And Shiva laughed: her story now was ours.

***********

Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/3dMNga3PaxcmTfrYH3OSfM
Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/stargaz…ntirmo/1842303474

Internet Archive
Book of sonnets:
archive.org/details/tome-of-stars/

Music:
Item 1, Anthesis: archive.org/details/Anthesis/
Item 2, Senescence: archive.org/details/senescence_tomeofstars
Item 3, Sporogenesis: archive.org/details/Sporogenesis_TomeOfStars/
Item 4, Anemochory: archive.org/details/Anemochory_TomeOfStars
Item 5, Quixotosis: archive.org/details/Quixotosis_TomeOfStars
Item 6, Scripture: archive.org/details/Scripture_TomeOfStars



Padam

Distant Satellites (Tour Edition)

Anathema

Your Wilderness

The Final Thing on My Mind

Lunatic Soul

Blackfield V

From 44 to 48

Hindsight

Fragile Dreams

Can't Let Go

The Solitary Path of a Convicted Man

Blackfield II (Remastered)

1,000 People (Remastered)

Machines and Men

This is the sound of music with real meaning, from a band growing in popularity against all the odds. A band defying expectations and rewriting the rule books on what can and can't be done in rock music. A band with such a natural sense of melody, balanced with seething power and lyrics that enlighten and inspire, a band of brothers and sisters, a band of unique origin. This is the best band you have never heard of. This album is beyond anything you ever heard before in its field. We are Anathema: we're here because we're here.

Anathema returned on May 31st with their new album, We're Here Because We're Here. Described as  ‘A flawless, life-affirming comeback and a gold-plated contender for album of the year’  and given a 9/10 review by Classic Rock, this is the first collection of new material from the band since the 2003 album, A Natural Disaster. A multi-coloured, multi-layered work of unbridled emotion, passion, and intensity, the new album has been embraced by their legions of fans and worldwide press.

‘We’re Here Because We’re Here is the finest they have unleashed so far... a stunningly enjoyable album.’ Classic Rock Prog.

Formed in Liverpool in 1990, the band’s sound and musical vision has continually evolved over the ensuing years while always remaining true to the band’s original goal of creating forward-thinking, meaningful, passionate, and honest music. With each release they moved beyond the boundaries of limited scenes and pigeon holes, creating a complex and emotive atmospheric sound. The album has been mixed by Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), who has described it as “definitely among the best albums I've ever had the pleasure to work on.”

‘It’s been seven years coming but Anathema’s eighth studio is very much worth the wait... Getting mixed by Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson is a fitting honour for such a splendidly built record’ 9/10 Metal Hammer.

Anathema have been at the forefront of the UK rock/metal movement for many years. They began their journey as pioneers of melodic heavy music, influencing a myriad of bands to follow them, before outgrowing all genres and limitations as they fearlessly explored new territory and new ways to express feeling through sound.
The line-up is really a collective of two families who were quite simply born to do it. Anathema consists of brothers Vincent, Daniel and Jamie Cavanagh, alongside childhood friends John Douglas and his sister Lee, who is an incredible singer in her own right. The line-up is completed by Les Smith, who brings much in the way of production expertise to the band.
There is a deeper bond in the group that transcends usual band politics, ego, and self-interest. They have a shared vision: to make the most incredible music they possibly can, and it seems, despite the lavish praise heaped on the band for their past work, that they are now taking their work to a whole new level.


ANATHEMA - WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE HERE
‘a glittering masterclass in atmospheric rock’ 9/10 Terrorizer


‘A flawless, life-affirming comeback and a gold-plated contender for album of the year’ 9/10 Classic Rock

‘A dazzling collection of highly-charged, progressive and emotively atmospheric rock songs that rarely dip below the euphoric.’ Rocksound

‘We’re Here Because We’re Here is the finest they have unleashed so far... a stunningly enjoyable album.’ Classic Rock Prog

‘Scouse progsters make a spectacular return... makes a seven year wait feel entirely worth it’ KKKK Kerrang!

‘the mighty Anathema, are back after a seven year recording hiatus with their latest record, the beautiful We’re Here Because We’re Here, and it’s one of the most ethereal pieces of music the band have produced... a welcome return indeed’ * * * * * Big Cheese

‘Anathema are a hidden jewel in the UK’s prog crown.  Their finest album to date... it’s an uplifting and sonically sumptuous rock record that could hardly be more appropriate for these prog-loving times’ Metal Hammer 

‘Everything modern-day Anathema fans will want and embrace: beautifully crafted, emotionally-charged and modern melodic rock of the highest order’ 9/10 Powerplay

‘the results are nothing short of breathtaking’ 4.5/5 Blunt

‘It’s been seven years coming but Anathema’s eighth studio is very much worth the wait... Getting mixed by Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson is a fitting honour for such a splendidly built record’ 9/10 Metal Hammer



Fragile Dreams

weareanathema