Sunday 7 November 2021

Not a one night fest

 




Because there was nothing lit, don’t imagine

I didn’t mark Diwali, that I don’t like

light. But there’s also a love for the crosswinds

that put out glowing flames. Pitch darkness strikes

the dark earth like lightning. Grief’s not equal

to an absence of lamps and festivals.

Grief too, can be a many-splendoured thing.

 


Grief too is a densely petalled flower

with its own lights nested within its folds -

they burn steadier though a bit lower,

of a much higher temperature threshold

and carry a much longer burning fuel

than a few earthen lamps and their ritual.

And it takes more than one night to get over.





16 comments:

  1. So much more than one night to get over. If ever we do.
    I am increasingly leaning towards thinking that grief stays with us forever, we just (mostly) learn to live with it. It changes us. And sometimes bites as hard as it ever did.

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    1. Agree. It's rather like a pebble in a laced boot. We just try to shift it to the least uncomfortable position but can get rid of it only when the shoe comes off.

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  2. Hari OM
    EC has spoken well... Loved your poem, Nila. YAM xx

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    1. Yes she always nails it! Glad you enjoyed the poem, Yamini, thank you.

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  3. Longer than a night or a season.

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  4. Beautiful imagery. Grief is something that changes a person.

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    1. Indeed life and mind changing. Thanks for being here.

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  5. Grief has so many layers and stages.

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  6. indeed - grief simmers, smolders, and then flares. Excellent poem

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  7. Hi Nila - couldn't agree more with you and your poem ... grief is dark, yet there's always hope as we reflect ... wonderful thoughtful comments from your readers - thank you for this streak of light in the one-night onward going fest ... Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary - indeed grief is a dark place and the metaphor of Diwali fits it nicely. And my readers, including you, blow me away with their depth of understanding and compassion. Thank you.

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  8. 'Grief too, can be a many-splendoured thing'. So true, Nila. And I agree with Sue, you don't really ever get over it, you learn to live with it. I like your description of a pebble in a shoe. I hope your Diwali was rich and beautiful and full of light.

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    1. Thank you, Denise. I had a quiet one, no lamps on account of my father. But Diwali night is always beautiful, lamps or no. Glad you enjoyed the poetry and the interactions.

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