36 Comments
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Amit Charles's avatar

Damn! That ending.

I didn't want it to end so soon, but when it did... Seemed perfect.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Amit. Yeah I felt that ending worked both ways, depending on how it was read.

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Nazish Nasim's avatar

I love how this end, Rajani!

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Nazish. 🙏

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Neil Barker's avatar

I really like this line, Rajani: "The sum of all that potential is not want."

Beautiful poem and thank you for sharing.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much for reading, Neil. Am glad that line resonated!

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Huzaifa Zoomkawala's avatar

as buddha prefigures

the necessary vagueness

that is to be darwish

exile awaits both

not wanting either

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

By walking, we make the path...or by wanting...it leads us or we lead it!! :) Thank you, Huzaifa! This reminds me of the series of Kabir interpretations you did long ago!

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Huzaifa Zoomkawala's avatar

Ah yes, Kabir. Indeed the trajectory from Buddha to Kabir is a natural one. Introducing Darwish contemporizes that trajectory. Thanks.

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Sonia Dogra's avatar

This is really really beautiful,

Rajani. To be, to just exist and be okay with it. Love how you end it.

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Sonia Dogra's avatar

This is really really beautiful,

Rajani. To be, to just exist and be okay with it. Love how you end it.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Sonia! Glad you liked it!

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M Catherine Smythe Zajc's avatar

Knowing without certainty...sparkles in its clarity of faith to sit or wander and just be. All will be well, all manner of things will be well.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Catherine, how lovely to see you here on Substack!!!! Am drawn by what you say about knowing without certainty being faith! Thank you for the kind words and I too hope things go well for us all.

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Mahdi Meshkatee's avatar

I would love to hear what Derrida had to say about this poem, Rajani, but no matter, deeply felt.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Well, I would love to hear it too! Isn't poetry all about the dance of words and emotions!! Thanks for reading, Mahdi!!! :)

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Madhuri Katti's avatar

Absolutely loved it! Just being without wanting to be - beautiful thought.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Madhuri..

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Rea de Miranda's avatar

This is beautiful, Rajani.

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Kim M Russell's avatar

This is a poem I felt myself fall into, Rajani. I love the way it hooks with the opening question, the gentle pace, the repetition of ‘word’, that makes me ‘want other words’. I especially love the lines:

‘Words want to be heard’

and

‘Take a plant primed to flower.

Not wanting rain.

Just holding the possibility of the flower.

Not waiting. Just being under the sky.’

And what a beautiful ending!

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Kim. Love when I see the old WP crowd here. And thanks for picking those lines!

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The Sea in Me    (Síodhna)'s avatar

Oh wow, beautiful!

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Siodhna. Glad you liked this one!

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Kerfe's avatar

The essence of Zen, but more human and encompassing.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, K. 🙏

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Sherry Marr's avatar

Wow, this is exquisitely beautiful, Rajani. Just gorgeous writing.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Sherry 🙏🙏

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Martha Ann Kennedy's avatar

"It doesn’t need a wrapper to be itself."

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thank you!! We need more of that, right! :)

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Martha Ann Kennedy's avatar

Yes!

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Lovely.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

Thanks so much, Rebecca.

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