Despite. And I offer it as a word: as big
as a bridge whose end is in the mouth
of a mist. As long as a list of everything
we have forgotten. As disconcerting as
a reflection in a mirror that isn’t. Despite
everything, there is still this life. And in
this life, as you try to dream, a star will
give you a poem. If you just keep doing
the things you cannot but do, completely
unfathomable theories will curl together
in your mind and explain themselves to
you. If you leave yourself behind and walk
under the trees, one stranger will show
an unexpected kindness that will make
you cry as you describe it, years later to
another. Despite everything, there is still
this life. And in this life, as on a giant
chalkboard, you can write and erase and
write and erase, until one day, someone
will know what you didn’t leave behind.
I don’t know how to love this life. I don’t
know how to measure its love. Despite
that, bulbuls fly into my terrace at dawn.
Some days, that is more than enough.
***
For Mary’s prompt at What’s Going On?.
THOUGHT PURGE 
Just beautiful. This whole section resonated with me:
“Despite
everything, there is still this life. And in
this life, as you try to dream, a star will
give you a poem. If you just keep doing
the things you cannot but do, completely
unfathomable theories will curl together
in your mind and explain themselves to
you.”
and the end:
“I don’t know how to love this life. I don’t
know how to measure its love. Despite
that, bulbuls fly into my terrace at dawn.
Some days, that is more than enough.”
But I love the whole thing.
LikeLike
Thanks so much… little joys that help cope (a tiny bit) with the big horrors…
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Despite
everything, there is still this life. And in
this life, as you try to dream, a star will
give you a poem.” And so here is the poem. How difficult and surreal the mouth that holds the word “despite.” Thank you for always undertaking the challenge, when the smallest most innocent things, gracing us, have to be enough.
LikeLike
Thank you, Susan… the horrors unfolding around us leave us with nothing to hold on to… all that’s left are the tiny things… ephemeral bursts of joy. But they pass.
LikeLike
A beautiful poem which captures the realities of how life can have many tough times. At times, we don’t see many aspects of good…then as you say, that one glimpse changes moods and brings a smile.
It’s much like trying to write poems..some days it works!
LikeLike
Thank you, Eileen… the tough times get brief windows of light, sometimes…
LikeLike
Lovely–and just what I needed to read this morning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Judith.
LikeLike
How very lovely. I love “If you try to dream, a star will give you a poem.” And the bulbuls flying into your terrace at dawn. Love of this life continues, through it all. A completely gorgeous and inspiring poem.
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Sherry. Still unclear what life is supposed to mean, but then there are the tiny bits of light and beauty… hard to stay positive with the state of the world right now, though. 😦
LikeLike
“Despite everything, there is still / this life.”….We are so fortunate to live it, despite everything. And what a wonder when a Bulbul flew into your line and nestled. Love it, Rajani.
LikeLike
Thank you, Sumana. They come in pairs and sing very very loudly 🙂
LikeLike
This poem makes my heart sing, Rajani! I should print it out and put it on my mirror and read it every day that I am feeling down about all that is happening in the world. T “Despite everything, there is still this life. ” I think some days I/we just have to remember that. And I will keep my eyes wide open for those “unexpected kindnesses.” Thank you for this!
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Mary. Delighted that you think it would be useful taped to your mirror! Am grateful to have found words for this poem, given all that’s happening in the world.
LikeLike
I love the hope and light in this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Alethea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this poem, Rajani, these lines especially:
‘…And in
this life, as you try to dream, a star will
give you a poem’
and
‘If you leave yourself behind and walk
under the trees, one stranger will show
an unexpected kindness that will make
you cry as you describe it, years later to
another.’
May bulbuls fly into your terrace every dawn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Kim. We have to gather the little joys, so we can maybe cope with the bigger, darker reality…
LikeLiked by 1 person