Most of the poems in this collection were written in 2020, when the world was drowning in the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The poems germinated from the blurred line between poetry and journaling, out of the collective agony we experienced during the pandemic.”
 
 
Being Non-Essential contains beautiful vignettes that truly speak to our collective conscience of the last year. — Katie Noonan
 
 
Madhu’s poems have a universal quality that connects to your core and elevates your mind. — Evan Mack
 
 
Madhu’s poetry traveled faster than light, from his heart to my heart. From his soul to my soul — Argyris Xafis
 
 
With one poem Madhu Raghavendra brought the artists of the world together at a time when our work was publicly devalued. — Laura Strickling
 
 
...a keening battle cry in the time of Covid-19, one that earns the author the title of Poet Laureate for an impending post-pandemic society. — Sam McGovern
 
 
[Madhu’s poetry] strikes me an act of revolution, a revolt against the ordinary, against complacency, against the casual acceptance of things as they are when we can be so much better. — Stanley Grill
 
 
Madhu Raghavendra has authored two books of poetry Make Me Some Love To Eat, and Stick No Bills. He is the founder of Poetry Couture, a movement that has created free spaces for poetry in many cities of India, including the North East. He uses performance poetry as a tool to advocate human and environmental rights. His poems have been translated into many languages. Madhu will be participating as resident poet at 2021 Spring International Writing Program, The University of Iowa.