Weather

This poem is dedicated to my mother.

It’s close to freezing outside
No different to the inside
There are those who love it
And others who hate it.
I am one who has no care.
Because the weather is nothing if not transitory -
Like life -
Like a candle in the wind -
Which glows brightly
No matter in which room of my house you light it.
The difference in my house is not like my heart,
It’s warm all over.
Like my mama’s love.
But it could not keep her body warm
Which froze all over
Like the blowing off of the candle
In the middle of the daylight
No different to the weather.
What does it matter if it is freezing outside?
When I am frozen on the inside.

This poem has also been published in The Lit Up Magazine

Falling in Love and Molecules

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Photos taken by Laju K.

Let's start with what does it mean by falling or being in love. Yes I know Valentine's Day has come and gone. But this topic still warrants some discussion.

I think the condition has something to do with one's molecules being intensely attracted to the other person's molecules. As such the urge to merge is high. As such people in love have that particular sparkle in their eyes, the smile that suddenly appears for no reason, the far-away look---the fleeting insanely happy moments. The key words here are fleeting moments.

I won't go into the science behind it. All I will say that the animalistic attraction has to do pherhormones (also known as musk). Does it mean animals also fall in love? Well, I believe it is easier in their case. There is no emotional attachment. We humans are blessed and cursed with emotions. A portrayal of an extreme emotional state can be scary to some just as a lack of emotion.

Can the state of being in love last long? A moment is a moment, not a lifetime.

What then happens to the initial surge, burst, of feelings? How does one sustain them? Should one? It depends I suppose on how long you'd love to be with the other person. Or rather how long you'd want the relationship to be passionate.....which in itself according to some can be hard to sustain. Why else do so many relationships flunk?

How did Romeo-Juliet, Heer-Ranjha, Laila-Majnu to name a few of the star-crossed lovers manage? These young lovers remained passionately in love with each other till their very end.

Now Heathcliff-Catherine in Wuthering Heights are a different story all together. But yet not. Theirs is a yet another love story to remember, but it wasn't straightforward. But then neither was it in the case of the other star-crossed lovers.

Sometimes souls become entangled or rather come into the play, actually they always do. It's just that it's hard when you meet your soul mate and cannot be with the other person, at least that's what I've read. Heathcliff and Catherine are considered soul mates.

Molecules still remain. Because after all that's what we are made up of. And yes our souls.

I'll stop this entry right here. Hopefully, I'll receive some feedback as to what does it mean to be in love according to my readers and can it be sustained? How do you do it? The couples in the above photos have taken the time to spend Valentine's Day with each other. What of those who could not physically meet? Do they not love each other enough?

What if? What if? What if?

Take care and hope you'll had a great Valentine's Day. I spent the day strolling on Marine Drive, taking pictures, and later talking to my Valentine.

Love---It is Written and Slumdog Millionaire

The next time someone tells me, "I love you," I not only will throw a wet towel at the person, but will also say, "Go get a life. Go meditate over it."

What does it mean anyway, to say, "I love you."

I think it could mean, "I want you to love me." The whole thing has to do with self, rather than the person one claims to love.

I prefer evidence, not necessarily scientific evidence, but some concrete proof that the person does feel the ridiculous, far-fetched, emotion towards me. And that the feeling is not a flight of fancy....Sounds nice to tell someone a phrase that has to do with love, I suppose. Might feel good for a few seconds, but then what? How does one sustain the feeling. Anyway, can it be sustained?

Some say, it is destiny---to be loved or hated.

I don't know what to say. Who made destiny? Whose destiny? How does this work? Do such things, love that is, last for a day, a week, a month? Is it any good? There is the romantic love, the other love, the this kind and the other kind of love. And then there is "garden variety" of love. This kind grows everywhere.

This last Friday, I watched "Slumdog Millionaire." Yes, I liked the movie--A. R. Rahman's music, the characters, and the actors. In the movie, Jamal never does tell Latika, "I love you." But we know he loves her. His feelings are clear through his actions and not merely words, nice as they might have sounded, without action the "I love you" would have sounded empty.

What happens in the end? I'm not going to spoil the movie for you, so we'll get back to the topic of love itself. Oh yes, in the movie the boy does tell the girl, "Come away with me." How nice that sounded. Was it Jamal or Salim who tells Latika these words? Will let you watch the movie.

Back to love. What's that? Mother's love, yes, I understand. A father's okay to that too. A friend's love? Yes. And then what? Any answers?