Lotus in the Tide
"Deeply philosophical and often spiritual, yet never loud. Poems to be whispered, brimming with gratitude for being alive."
— K. Satchidanandan, poet, former Secretary of Sahitya Akademi"Calm, reflective pieces invite rereading and reward close attention."
— Dustin Pickering, poet, founder of Transcendent Zero Press
About Karan Kapoor
I'm a poet and biophysicist based in Boston. My debut collection, Lotus in the Tide, was published by Hawakal in 2025. It is a book of prose and poems that grew out of years of quiet attention to the natural world and the inner life.
By day, I work as a computational chemist, studying how diseases operate at the molecular level and designing new medicines. I hold a PhD in Molecular Biophysics from the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I often think of writing and science as parallel practices. Both demand close observation, patience, and a willingness to dwell in uncertainty. The poems draw from this same impulse: to look carefully, to question, and to find meaning in what is already here.
Thank you for visiting. You can read more about my book on this site, or reach me through the contact page.
Books
Lotus in the Tide
Lotus in the Tide is a collection of reflections and poems that listens to the quiet teachings of nature and the inner life. Rooted in years of introspection, observation, and the author's work as a biophysicist, it explores the layers of existence, questions the construct of self, and celebrates the unity that binds us all.
Combining a scientific perspective with contemplative insights, the collection encourages readers to examine consciousness, find peace in stillness, and realize our interconnectedness, like a lotus blossoming among the currents.
"Deeply philosophical and often spiritual, yet never loud. Poems to be whispered, brimming with gratitude for being alive and part of nature that envelops us. We have a few meditative poets; Karan is easily one of them."
— K. Satchidanandan, poet, former Secretary of Sahitya Akademi"Kapoor's poems imbricate silence and solitude with sounds that do not quite interrupt as much as add a cadence to both. His control over the language in which to communicate both silence and sound ensures that the poems actually work unobtrusively but with considerable evocative power: a poem too sprouts in silence."
— Pramod K. Nayar, Professor and UNESCO Chair, University of Hyderabad"A unique, expressive contemplation of existence and our connection with the cosmos, an 'existentialist Anthropocene' collection that invites readers to reflect on how we live with one another and with Earth."
— Anita Nahal, poet, Professor, Pushcart Prize nominee"A reflective dialogue with nature where landscapes, animals, seasons, and elements speak back to the self. Rooted in eco-poetry and personal seeking, these poems move toward unification and oneness, a gentle call to ecological and spiritual awareness."
— Rochelle Potkar, poet and fiction writer"Structured and thoughtful, this collection explores a modern, spiritual ecology that harmonizes diversity and unity. Calm, reflective pieces invite rereading and reward close attention."
— Dustin Pickering, poet, founder of Transcendent Zero PressMidwest Book Review
"The works move between succinct prose observation and poetry that reads with the impact and brevity of haiku, yet delivers the one-two punch of quiet understanding often seen in Zen philosophy and meditative styles of poetic contemplation."
"Nature, science, and belief entwine in these works, which are written not by an Eastern thinker, as many would assume, but by a Boston biophysicist and poet whose work holds the uncanny and uncommon ability to bridge the rigid discipline of science with the flexibility and emotion of spiritual and psychological reflection."
— Diane Donovan · Read the full reviewNorth of Oxford
"His short poems evoke thoughtful insights that suggest and question perceptions of how we conduct ourselves and even the meaning of why we exist. The poem has a light touch and uses common narrative language which makes the reader feel comfortable discussing such an important issue of what the human purpose is and why are we here."
"An interesting and calming read. The themes are clear and not preachy but suggestive. Many questions within the verses and possible answers call for a re-read just to see if you are on the same page as the author."
— Lynette G. Esposito · Read the full reviewAt the cusp of desire and desirelessness,
The chasm between attachment and detachment,
The confluence of thought and thoughtlessness.
There, attention is free.
Attention is weightless.
A seed sprouts in silence. A flower unfolds quietly.
A leaf drifts down without a sound.
In stillness, transformation occurs.
Research
Alongside poetry, I work as a computational chemist and biophysicist, studying how diseases operate at the molecular level and designing new medicines. My work sits at the intersection of physics, chemistry, biology, and computing, with a focus on translating fundamental science into therapies that reach patients.
Over the past decade, my research has contributed to cancer drug candidates now in human clinical trials, to our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells, and to the discovery of new compounds for treating diabetes. This work spans over 30 publications and patents, with over 700 citations, and has appeared in journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Chemical Science, Biophysical Journal, and Trends in Biochemical Sciences.
January 2018
April 2018
January 2020
May 2021
Full Publications on Google Scholar
Contact
For inquiries about my work, poetry, or book availability, you can reach me directly using the form below.