May 6, 2017 Original Poetry

Benediction
©May 6th, 2017
By Vijaya Sundaram

The close of the day comes
From the hill-tower,
Lingers at our kitchen window
Hungry for warmth, for sustenance.
The day’s-end trails purple darkness.
The sky is silent now, after
A long outburst of light.
This is a message.

Fragrant basmati, kadi-patta
Green-chilli, tofu-pyaaz-palak,
Fills our breath, swirls from
Steaming food on our plates.
Clear water to cool our tongues,
Books in our hands, sharing words.
These are gifts.

Between two pillars of rain,
Came a window of blue and gold,
And I walked the dog, earlier.
I was simply there, empty –
An ambulating, seeing thing,
Walking another seeing being.
We saw, we walked, enveloped
In our cocoon of dog-human-ness.
This is a mystery.

Yes, I have striven, wept blood,
I have raged and fought, resisted untruth,
I have known sorrow, and crippling loss,
I have known doubt – so much doubt, clouding
My brain like unending fog –
And even now, as I am lifted
Out of myself, in the simple
Fact of being here, now,
I face myself, and ask this :
Why must I strive anymore?
Will striving lead to strife?
The answer lies in the question.
This is foolishness.

I want to wander among the indolent ones,
In the land of the lotos-eaters.
I care not for busy-ness, achievement.
I will lay me down here, on the mossy banks
Of this river of forgetfulness,
And dream of getting lost, forever.
This is a dream.

The last light fades quietly, slipping
Through cracks in the sky,
My family and I read our books,
Fragrant food put away.
I am satiated, the doubts quiet, for now.
This is satisfaction.

They go upstairs, begin playing guitar.
Music drifts down, and pulls me upwards –
Another struggle, another world, but sweet,
So sweet this struggle, full of promise!
I shall put this away now.  Music calls.
I am tired, and the night is gentle.
Sleep will come tonight, and I will
Welcome her with unresisting eyes.
This is a benediction.
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Tags: #benediction, #OriginalPoetrybyVijayaSundaram, #Satisfaction, #Striving