All of us dream. Or at least have dreamt sometime in the past, of a perfect future. A future where we secure all that we ever wanted. Like a kid at an ice cream parlor, we garnish our cups with all kinds of flavor combinations. Livelihood in this make-believe castle of ours is devoid of adversities. But, alas! life isn’t your Myfroyoland. Time exposes the subtle non-linearities in fate that delay our achievements. Our roads become increasingly twisted and undulating, making us humble and sober in the process.
In the
poem, “Our Dreams”, I take you through a figurative journey by introducing a
metaphorical woman who represents the ‘woman of my dreams.’ I spend some
fanciful moments. Soon chaos strikes in the form of thunder, which parts us. However,
life needs to and must go on. Like a seafaring vessel fighting through gutsy waves, we
have to move ahead with a clear goal in mind.
The poem
may be perceived as slightly pessimistic in the sense that I never actually talk about achieving ‘the’ goal. The poem may end with a very
unappealing/cliched climax, but I feel that it’s our journey through life that
is the most memorable. Once a goal is reached, we are momentarily contented and soon move on to the next goal. The bottom line is the fact that life weaves
its own stories as we tag along. Far in the future, when the time is right, we may be living the life that is perfect for us even without realizing much.
Rudyard
Kipling quite eloquently expressed similar sentiments in his celebrated poem ‘
If ’. A few favorite lines are
If you can
dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your
aim;
If you can
meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the
same;
(Follow this link to read the full poem: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if--- )
I agree
with many that ' If ' is a very idealistic poem. A poem that is very difficult to
emulate in real life. But even if we incorporate some of the mentioned advice if not all, we will find ourselves in a comfortable world.
I hope you like my poem. Wishing you
a gentle read!
Our Dreams
Over the terrace,
against the ‘scape,
Who is she, that fix’d
me in gape!
Stretched my sight, as
far as I could,
What a beauty! There
she stood.
Fair and slim, hair
flying,
O lucky wind, and here
‘m dying.
Happy is the sun, the
moon and the stars,
As their light has
shown a beauty so scarce!
Turning her head, she
caught my eyes,
Like the dead, my gaze
was ice.
So, did the winds stop
for a while?
Or was my soul numb and
fragile?
A beam of smile crossed
her lips,
Like a breeze bent row
of pink tulips.
Wished we meet, before
heavens retreat,
For without ‘tis like
dying incomplete!
Soon some clouds, from
nowhere came
Startled by thunder,
our moments became.
Oft she ran to shelter
from hail,
As my dreams were meant
only for fails.
Not just me, for many
of us,
Dreamt and tranced, a
similar farce.
For reality is like, a
sailor’s plight,
Sea whose ebbs or flows,
it must fight.
Even though day
promises many a sight,
Dusk sends men yearning
for light.
But ships don’t bother,
as long as water,
Which it can drink, but
be only sober.
So, keep on sailing,
mast held high
Toiling hard days,
without a sigh!
Biswaraj Palit
