Monday 1 February 2016

Lost & Found Valentine's Edition










Today I am participating in the Lost & Found Valentine's Edition, a special blogging event inspired by a collaboration between Arlee Bird and Guilie Castillo-Oriard, co-hosted by Elizabeth Seckman, Yolanda Renee, Denise Covey and Alex J. Cavanaugh

The guidelines for participating in the event are:



Do you remember that special feeling of love found? And who hasn't experienced the emotional experience of love lost? Some of you might have even lost a love only to find that person later for another go around.


Tell your story about love lost or found in our special Valentine's blogfest.   Your post can be a short fiction, an essay, poetry, or even a song--let your imagination run free. Any genre is fair game, be it romance, historical fiction, memoir, or even science fiction. After all there are no limitations when it comes to love.
    

My post consists of a two part poem.  





Revisit


I.


The tobacco shop where you bought your first -
soft eighties music tinkles from somewhere,
but the rest’s changed, we’re not so well-versed
any more with the buildings in this square.


The teashop’s gone, its shaggy patched awning
replaced by a modern fronted café.
Do you remember what happened that morning?
recall the exact events of that day?


I only heard you claim my place and order
you said there must have been some slip-up;
I raised my eyes from behind my folder.
The earth stumbled.  I pushed across my cup.


Years later and I still don’t know who found whom
and I still let you have my cup in tearooms.


II.


It didn’t feel like finding anything new -
more like resuming after a hiatus.
A death, an intervening life or two,
but the story just the same between us.


I seemed to know the creases of your eyelids,
I was sure I’d kissed that mystic mouth before,
my forehead had lain against those fingertips,
my feet had walked for lifetimes to your door.


It doesn’t count who’d left behind the other -
the deaths, the lives, the partings in between;
this life’s a chance to weave ourselves together
in a tale again like we have always been.


Were you contrite? Did you stand me a round?
If love has not been lost, can it then be found?


~~~~~


A basic tenet of ancient Indian philosophy is the cyclical nature of the universe, anaadi (that which has no beginning) and ananta (that which is endless), it is timeless and perpetual, it constantly morphs into different forms, comes back to the original point and starts the whole cycle over again.  'What goes around comes around' in short. The common Indian ideal of a successful relationship/marriage is that love persists through cycles of birth, death and reincarnation. ‘The bond that ties for seven births’ - like the universe, true love is supposed to be cyclical, timeless and perpetual too.


In Eastern poetry, particularly in the Sufi tradition, the tavern and the inn are established metaphors for the world and worldliness.  The cup/goblet/glass is also a metaphor, for events and trials, for life itself. ('......if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.....' is perhaps the most famous use of the metaphor.)  I, being where I am and what I am, can't help but use both the cup and the tavern often in my writing, suitably tweaked and updated.


The sonnet is a Western form and has been used widely to celebrate love. It felt entirely appropriate for this prompt. Thank you to the creators and the co-hosts, and to you for reading. 


To read the other entries click here, or here.




34 comments:

  1. I'm impressed how much you managed to weave into those two poems. A new cycle and life reborn.

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    1. Poetry can do the telling (or showing, as you like) in teeny tiny word counts..

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  2. I do wonder if we ever love but only one? My husband is always saying 'in our next life together.' I love it!

    Beautifully done, Nila!

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  3. I'm with Yolanda on that. What a beautiful poem--and the symbolism is awesome.

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    1. Me too. We're all die-hard romantics out here.

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  4. Mystical, beautiful and hopeful.
    It is hard to ask for more from love.
    Thank you.

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    1. Does love ask for anything?

      Thanks for being here.

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  5. Very nice, so many different images to touch on the theme.

    My husband talks about being together "forever" even after death. Sounds fine to me.

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    1. Couples being reunited in the after-life is a popular idea across the world. That's why Shah Jahan and Mumtaz are buried together in Taj Mahal I guess.

      Cool if one has had a good marriage. Not so fine, in fact quite ghastly otherwise haha

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  6. Nila, your magic pen has weaved its wonder. 'What goes around comes around' just doesn't sound as lyrical as the ancient Indian philosophy. Life is definitely cyclical which is why change doesn't faze me.
    Denise:-)

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    1. The ancient Indians were total whizzes at putting a lyrical spin on things :) Change is always good, because it keeps us limber

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  7. Wonderful poem. I love the beginning and the end and the beginning again. Great explanation and information of the Eastern poetry and the metaphors. I'll never look at a cup in the same way again. And I used to own a tavern: wonder what that says about me! :)

    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. That you have a great understanding of the world. :)

      Glad you enjoyed the poetry. Thanks.

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  8. Only someone who loves deeply can write with such emotion and beauty...wonderful poems~

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    1. Ya, might as well go the whole hog :) glad you liked the poetry

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  9. Very nicely done. Such lovely images and fascinating ideas to contemplate. I agree about the cyclical nature of much in life which might include love.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Eastern mysticism and philosophy is indeed fascinating. The cyclical nature of the world is apparent in our everyday lives as well..thanks.

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  10. I love the mysticism and philosophy captured in this sonnet.
    East meets West - how clever!
    Great writing, Nila.

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    1. Live quite close to where they do meet actually :-)

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  11. What an enchanting poem. You did a beautiful job with it. We're all entwined within certain cycles of love and life, but few of us pause long enough to realize it. A lack of love today is too often perceived a perpetual condition, even though love will always return.

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    1. That Pause button is essential really, otherwise most everything flashes by without anyone taking any note

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  12. That was beautiful Nila. And I loved the little Indian history.

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  13. This is definitely one of the nicest love poems I've read in a while. It's simple, yet lyrical and I love the idea of love going through life cycles. :-)

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    1. I like the idea of cyclical love, and universe, too..reincarnation stories are quite fascinating!

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  14. Hi Nila - wonderful to read the two parts and to know we do meet up again ... I'm sure of that - then the brief explanation of how our worlds and loves are so interconnected ...

    Brings heart into our lives ... wonderful - cheers Hilary

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    1. That's what most philosophy/mysticism/religion is supposed to do...thanks for stopping here while on your travels..

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  15. I really like these poems, especially the second part. Also, the philosophy behind it really interesting and gave me ideas, thanks :)

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    1. The philosophy behind them is an unending inspiration...for minds much greater than my own...thanks for being here :)

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  16. It didn’t feel like finding anything new -
    more like resuming after a hiatus.
    A death, an intervening life or two,
    but the story just the same between us.

    You are enormously talented. Thank you for sharing your gift in the Lost & Found hop.
    Guilie @ Quiet Laughter

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    1. It was a pleasure and I had great fun writing. thanks for creating and hosting.

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