Monday 23 November 2015

The title is the hardest part





I still come here sometimes, where the lane turns
a little on itself and then narrows;
the teashop still stands, a gas stove now burns
charcoal’s banished, also the radio’s
replaced by screens; various sizes and types –
television, smartphone, palmtop gizmos.
Only humans retrace their steps in life.


I can’t honestly say that I retrace.
True, I come to stand beneath your window
in some vague effort to find my exact place,
to find a peg again from long ago;
you’ve moved and I have too, nothing stops
and it’s both pleasant and fitting that it’s so.
But some evenings I still walk to the teashop.





12 comments:

  1. I love this, Nila. Some things change, some don't. Humans will always look back whether in nostalgia or regret. :-)

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    1. And thank goodness for that - most stories come from looking back :-)

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  2. Reminds me of the house I grew up in. When I pass by it's like retracing steps. The memories overwhelm, and the what if's always pop up. Lovely!

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    1. You know, there are several spots in my hometown which I pass whenever I go there, some have changed beyond recognition, some marginally, all great memories :). We can retrace steps and enjoy that too, but we can't go back. To be honest, I don't think I would like it much even if I could. Can't better those memories, so might as well just retrace and leave it at that :-)

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  3. Wistful...
    I detect a positive note of melancholy... if that makes sense?
    Accepting change as part of life can be difficult but necessary. Nothing stays the same.

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    1. Positive melancholy...absolutely makes sense, and totally my cup of coffee! :-) always get into this mode come autumn.

      Not such a bad thing that things don't remain the same, would get boring pretty fast if they did..

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  4. I looked at yesterday
    Now it can never be
    Tomorrow who knows
    All changes in concept
    Reality clings to hope
    Still we see what we want
    Looking back we remember
    Remembering both pain and joy
    ***

    You showed me paths I’ve taken
    And others, I wish I would have

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    1. Hope and pain and joy always tangled up...practically impossible to say which is which

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  5. You are beyond talented, Nilanjana. I'm so, so glad you stopped by my guest post at Yolanda's so I could find you. I'll be back often :)
    Guilie @ Quiet Laughter

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    1. Nice to see you here Guilie, and great to meet you too! Thank you for your warm words.

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