27 Comments
User's avatar
Nazish Nasim's avatar

It is fascinating how your mind works. I always love how you follow the complex threads of thoughts. ❤️

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Nazish. I always wonder what the poem (or any art) really is, what the reader understood it to be and what happens in that gap!!!

Expand full comment
Arti's avatar

Loved it. Especially,

“ That the reader

can open a cage. That the thought

can escape,‘

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Arti ❤️🙏

Expand full comment
School of Blue's avatar

The poem can dream ... what release, what a refuge. Thanks, Rajani

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Richard.

Expand full comment
Kim M Russell's avatar

The final stanza is so satisfying, Rajani.

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Kim 🙏

Expand full comment
David Kirkby's avatar

It's an interesting concept Rajani.

Without the Poet the thought would not exist, but without the thoughts the Poet would not be a Poet.

If the thought escapes the Poem, it is because it has found a new home in the reader - transplanted. If the Poet is a good Poet, and a fortunate Poet, the thought finds many Readers and thereby multiplies, but in doing so it does becomes transformed...

And maybe - just maybe - here and there it helps create a new Poet, and new thoughts...

D :)

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you, David. Yes, lots of maybes there when it comes to power of a thought in a poem! I often wonder what readers make of a poem, particularly one that takes on something complex or personal… perhaps what you say about triggering more poems or thoughts is the best case scenario!!!!

Expand full comment
Mahdi Meshkatee's avatar

Your incandescent understanding gives me so much hope and joy, my friend.

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, dear Mahdi.

Expand full comment
Sherry Marr's avatar

That thought staring back, bloodied and desperate - wow! I love the poet dreaming in the closing stanza - that the thought can help the reader open a cage.

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you, Sherry... am glad the mousetrap imagery resonated!!!

Expand full comment
Paul Cannon's avatar

Yes, the poet can dream and fly ❤️

Expand full comment
Prince the VIIth's avatar

Sweet one. Keep coming.

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you 🙏🙏

Expand full comment
Kerfe's avatar

The reader is the one with the key, always.

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you, K. Yes, absolutely…I think the poem belongs to the reader once it is complete…whether it works or not depends on what the reader brings to it! The poet can only hope!

Expand full comment
Rosemary Nissen-Wade's avatar

Yes indeed!

The Goddess group I attend is lately thinking about, and discussing, thought. I'll bring this along to share next time.

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you.. would love to know what the group makes of the poem! Also I love that they are called the Goddess Group!!! I need to tune into that energy!

Expand full comment
Rosemary Nissen-Wade's avatar

That's my abbreviated label. We are actually The Goddesses of Shining Light – not claiming to be goddesses, so much as to try our best to embody the qualities of the Divine Feminine. (That might sound as if we're all Pagan, but no. Some are; others are Buddhist, Christian, Hare Krishna, New Age, agnostic...) The discussion group I refer to is a small fraction of the larger group. I'll let you know what they think.

Expand full comment
The Sea in Me    (Síodhna)'s avatar

Really thought provoking, lovely writing, Rajani.

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much :) (Not intended to be provocative , though!!!)

Expand full comment
The Sea in Me    (Síodhna)'s avatar

Amended to what I meant, sorry, thought provoking what how I read it.

Expand full comment
Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you… and it is very thoughtful of you to clarify. Much appreciated. ❤️

Expand full comment