Friday, December 29, 2006

Home


I sit in my crammed balcony,
The birds sing in short trills
Or caw.
It is calm,
Except for the constant clamor from a construction site in the distance.
Another morning dawns,
And there’s a chill in the air.
I watch the sun rise from the unknown –
A yellow – orange orb wreathed in clouds.
I breathe to take in the fresh smell of the morning and a kitchen already busy.
Thoughts of a new photographs slip into my mind.
And then, a harsh word from behinds jerks me out of my reverie.

There’s a cold that woolens cannot warm,
An anxiety that doesn’t seem to leave,
A heaviness in the chest that cannot be explained,
Regrets for the past and a future already known.
Regrets that don’t change a thing, but don’t leave.
Sadness at inadequacy,
Of what was but isn’t anymore.
Thoughts of efforts not made, and of lethargy that swells.
Days of awkward meetings, awkward smiles, and quiet disappointments.
I look at the church, and think of what the night would have been.
The moonlight and the stars.
I look around me,
Bare walls, and softness that doesn’t comfort very much.

I look at our photograph, and I smile.
Remembering how you hated to be photographed at all.
How you liked this photograph once, but don’t like it anymore.
I never understood why.
I look at the little parcel of cloth, wrapping something as if it were sacred.
And I’m scared of the scent that might fade.
I fear the memories won’t burn even when I want to remember.
But will remain as dying embers.
I’m not trying to escape into your presence,
The effort will still be mine,
The lack of which haunts me now.
But there was something when you were here,
Content of happiness.
And now, I want so much to run away,
Run to you,
When I know I cannot.

You still feel so much like Home…



* I’d like to thank Saptarshi. The last few lines are from his poemHome is where…
I realise it's pointless to mention, but the last line although published by Saptrashi first, is still my own. I've said it too many times before.

5 comments:

Ritwika said...

Okay, this may sound like crap, but when I was reading this, I couldn't help but feel this incomprehensible sense of loss - like I was fumbling for a way out of all that.. that reminiscence.. I still am unsure about the last line. I can't phrase exactly what I feel about it. I'll post about it later, hm?

The picture, however, doesn't seem to go with it. I don't know.

Anonymous said...

it's beautifully written. thank you. i'm not saying anything more here.

Unknown said...

Luthien,this is beautiful...i am bowled! I like this so much better than my own.Its brilliant!

"Thoughts of efforts not made, and of lethargy that swells.
Days of awkward meetings, awkward smiles, and quiet disappointments."

These could've been my words.Exactly my thoughts.Love it.

Lúthien Táralóm said...

Right now I'm feeling a little blank so I'll reply to Ate's comment later.
@ Feanaro - I'm glad you liked it love.
@Saptarshi - I'm glad you love it. I thought I should add a link to your poem as the last few lines are from it. But still so different na? I was sacred that this might turn out like your poem. I'm glad it hasn't. You can call and talk about this whenever you like.
Poetry speaks in such a different complete way. Don't you agree?

Unknown said...

Yes.Very true!