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Too much time was spent defining home
and away
by leaf shadows, textures of mud,
length of the stay,
the fauna that flies, and that swims,
comes back to spawn,
the shape of the constellations
and of the lawn.
The cups we held once, and those
that we lost, or chipped.
what was left behind and what was
finally shipped.
Too much effort went into piling
on the floors
what was mine by right, by grace; and what was yours.
When the containers came to port
and were unpacked
everything was mixed up inside,
nothing neatly stacked -
had the cups come home or had they travelled
away?
whose they’d been before the trip
and now whose were they?
A few cups were shipped on a voyage
through the sea -
they blurred notions of ownership,
and of destiny.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteOh this means more to me than you could know! On my transfer to the UK from OZ, two boxes went astray. Of all the things, they included a fine bone china teaset (Lily Of The Valley) my mother had adored and had gifted on to me - as well as a full dining set of Noritaki (Goldmere). The sea (or other) removed all notion of ownership! Love this Nila. YAM xx
That must have been awful! I'm so sorry, Yamini. I know we are forever told to rise above material things, but that's so hard when a gift we treasure is lost, whatever the reason. It's the connection the person gifting that creates the value. And that's devastating to lose. Hugs.
DeleteYou have me wondering (yet again) whether the most important things are those that we hold in our head and our hearts. Those things that are packed in our heads and our hearts... And the job of unpacking them is huge.
ReplyDeleteOh, what we carry in our heads and hearts matter so much more! And sometimes they are lost too, with age and disease. That's the worse kind of loss, unbearable to stand and watch.
DeleteAs someone who has not moved much at all, I can still appreciate this poem and the above comments. I liked the unpacking heads and hearts as being harder than the actual physical items. I'm sure it's tricky to sometimes remember what should be in a box, and that moment of "wait, did I leave that behind?" Some regrets must be difficult too.
ReplyDeleteThat's the most difficult part, if they've been packed or not and after unpacking, where they've been stored for retrieval. If your family is on three different continents then which of them holds which precious thing is also a consideration - it's an ongoing nightmare! :) :)
DeleteBut seriously, heads and hearts are hands down more precious and more difficult. No question.
Hi Nila - moving ... I've made so many and thankfully haven't lost too much. It's always difficult to know (well for me anyway) how long I'll be somewhere ... etc etc ... but I've carted books, and books (and art) around - always receiving chagrin for them - yet what can one do ... I just enjoy them being there for me to get to sometime - at the rate I'm going ... in my dotage.
ReplyDeleteSince Africa I've given away a great deal ... to friends with family, who will (perhaps, if her daughters feel the same way she does) enjoy and use them, and to cousins ... who have family connections - that we, my brothers and I, don't have. Also to goddaughters two relevant 'heirloom' books ...
Cheers - interesting thoughts - stimulating my brain rather more than perhaps I need at this time ... have a happy week - Hilary
Hi Hilary, I haven't lost much but I have had to leave stuff behind, knowing that they cannot be accommodated in the next place and anyway they'd take too long and be too costly to transport. Occupational hazard of expats! :)
DeleteAlways nice if you can pass on stuff to people who will enjoy them, but that too is never guaranteed. C'est la vie...You have a great week ahead too.
Those verses strike a chord, Nilanjana. So evocative!
ReplyDeleteMore often than not, it’s the tangible ( easily confused with the material) that bring up memories, and the desire to hold on to them is supreme when it comes to parting and de-cluttering. For, years later when one is separated by geographical boundaries or even the worst, they’re those objects that act as tiny fragments of treasured moments. And then all you’re left with are the bits- chipped or unscathed, that make you smile wistfully as you begin life in yonder lands.
I treasure words too- whether in the form of handwritten notes or digital exchanges. And that’s what I have of you from the few times we connected. Memories of you, you and me, and what brought us together 😊
Hi Ruby, great to hear from you and more so, over here! Thank you for that lovely, thoughtful comment.
DeleteI totally get what you're saying about treasuring words - I do too. Used to preserve bundles of letters, postcards, etc, for a long time, but now time and tide have washed some of the physical ones away. That's one good thing about digital exchanges, don't take much space and keep forever.
Had some wonderful times at Al Nahda. Great times, great memories. Hope you and family are doing well.