Thursday, May 03, 2007

At first you were not even around and my days were unselfconscious and free of your curious, sometimes flattering, sometimes offending (but always piercing) gaze. And then you came in, demanding a share of the air that I claimed as mine, leaving me breathless and flushed. But at least you kept a distance. I stayed still and you took your place so you could see but not touch, sense but not smother.
Time passed and the distance reduced. The proximity was scary, thrilling and so comforting. I didn’t have to see you; indeed I could not. But I knew you were there, like an invisible warm blanket. Was it just chance, a sign from the skies, a careful plan of yours? Who could say? Not me in any case. Though I did notice that this time it was you that had stayed still and I that had got drawn.

Like some pretty singer sang sadly once… should’ve seen just what was there, and not some holy light. It got cold, and I guess the stars sensed it too. Fate intervened once again, and up sprang the walls. The closeness was gone, the proximity became a thing of the past. I could call if I wanted, but my voice wouldn’t carry. You anyway would never need to call; your need for me was finished.
You've averted your gaze, but yet I know sometimes (even often perhaps) you sneak up to the boundaries of my world and peep in. Perhaps you want to see how I’m coping, if I’m still missing you and feeling miserable. Am I wallowing in sadness, wishing us back in your window at night, looking at the paper star making a dancing spray of little lights on your pale wall? Am I still weak for you? I don’t know what you find… I barely even know you’re there. As far as I’m concerned, you never came in at all.

I've averted my gaze, but you know sometimes (often in fact) I sneak up to the boundaries of your world and peep in. Perhaps I want to see how I’m coping, if I’m still missing you and feeling miserable. Am I wallowing in sadness, wishing us back in your window at night, looking at the paper star making a dancing spray of little lights on your pale wall? Am I strong enough for you yet? You probably know what I find… You always know when I’m there. As far as you’re concerned, I never went away at all.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

It
Consumes me
Cages me
Frees me
Breaks me
Defines me
Calms me
Stresses me
Punishes me
Rewards me
Shrinks me
Expands me
Tires me
Uplifts me
Confuses me
Leads me
Delights me
Saddens me
Hurts me
Soothes me
Excites me
Bores me
Abandons me...
...and comes back

Keeps me grounded
Takes me high
Makes me soar
Clips my wings
Gives me strength
Makes me weak
Makes me laugh
Makes me cry
Makes me proud
Lets me down
Expands my world
Imprisons my life
Makes me brighter
My moods darker
My days longer
And nights shorter
Brings me respect
Lowers my patience


I love it
I hate it
I need it
I challenge it
I surrender to it
I crave it
I dread it
I forgive it
I begrudge it
I ignore it
I nurture it
I'm addicted
I'm hopeless
It comes back,
And I take it back


1. Work
2. Love

(Work is love made visible : Kahlil Gibran)