My heart asks me a question I can't answer:
"Am I earthly, or am I infernal?"
This amazes me; my thinking hits a start,
Ah, at least I still have a ‘heart'!
O you cruel world, I was born selfless,
And you wish to make me heartless!
You wish to draw out of me, all my goodness,
And in the success of that, lies your happiness!
I pity the puppets in your demonic hands,
Trapped like the past buried in the sands.
I was born an angel, serene and pure
You change me, of that I'm sure.
I smile, when actually I'm ready to kill,
I dance when I'd rather be still,
Within me, the colour of purity fades,
Instead of love, there are killing spades.
You desire that I praise and flatter,
Just because it pleases you better.
You think changing wouldn't cost a shilling,
But to change, you are never willing.
You preach of love, humility, and justice,
But you are made up of hate, pride, and malice.
Ablaze within you is a devilish fire,
Goodness you've burnt in the crucible of your ire.
But I can see this is the way to be,
Only in my dreams can I be a spirit free.
I too will ask my heart not to beat,
Kill my conscience and let myself cheat.
I will be what I was never ought to,
Because you desire it, and it shall be true.
I've understood things aren't flowery good,
Covers our pure hearts, your evil hood.
You wish to change me, and change I will.
The good in me, I will myself kill.
From now on, till my death,
Pretence shall fill each breath.
Into my new home, you fake world, I enter,
Defeated by your puissance, I finally surrender. . .
(30 January 2007)
Questions, Comments, Critique
For a person producing a creative/artistic piece, feedback is one of the most important steps towards improvement.
I see myself as a writer and a photographer in the making, so it is important for me to know what people think of my work. I want to work in a way that people can like and appreciate. And the three best ways to measure public opinion in this regard are Questions, Comments and Critique.
Questions: Do you wish to ask me anything related to the work? Does it leave you with any puzzles? Did any of my thoughts/expression confuse you?
Comments: Tell me what you think of my work. What emotion did it arouse within you? Could you relate with it? Did I end up fulfilling the objective/s I started out with? Generally, what do you think?
Critique: Give me a critical analysis of the work. Point out technical, grammatical, ideological errors, etc. Help me improve my skills and expression.
On this post, and elsewhere and everywhere, QCC are always welcome. I'm a big strong girl, you know--I can take whatever you got! :)
I see myself as a writer and a photographer in the making, so it is important for me to know what people think of my work. I want to work in a way that people can like and appreciate. And the three best ways to measure public opinion in this regard are Questions, Comments and Critique.
Questions: Do you wish to ask me anything related to the work? Does it leave you with any puzzles? Did any of my thoughts/expression confuse you?
Comments: Tell me what you think of my work. What emotion did it arouse within you? Could you relate with it? Did I end up fulfilling the objective/s I started out with? Generally, what do you think?
Critique: Give me a critical analysis of the work. Point out technical, grammatical, ideological errors, etc. Help me improve my skills and expression.
On this post, and elsewhere and everywhere, QCC are always welcome. I'm a big strong girl, you know--I can take whatever you got! :)
My Writing Pieces [ANN]
This is an announcement [ANN] that from now onwards, I shall be using this blog as one of the platforms to showcase my experiments with creative writing.
This decision has come as a result of my extreme laziness—I had actually registered a blog on WordPress which was to be solely for my stories and poems. I have had several potential theme files for this blog in my Downloads folder, I have had "WP blog" as a permanent fixture on my to-do list for every vacation since 2007, and for months I've been mentally planning how to publicize that blog.
However, finally I've acknowledged that I'm too lazy, and since I cannot keep this whole idea hanging in mid-air forever, here's the not-so-grand unison of writabulous.wordpress.com with a-glorious-gift.blogspot.com.
Every week roughly, I'll post from my tiny collection of writing pieces that deserve to be here.
In the meanwhile, you can check them out at one of these links:
writing/com/authors/sudeep1110
storywrite.com/sudeep1110
allpoetry.com/sudeep1110
This decision has come as a result of my extreme laziness—I had actually registered a blog on WordPress which was to be solely for my stories and poems. I have had several potential theme files for this blog in my Downloads folder, I have had "WP blog" as a permanent fixture on my to-do list for every vacation since 2007, and for months I've been mentally planning how to publicize that blog.
However, finally I've acknowledged that I'm too lazy, and since I cannot keep this whole idea hanging in mid-air forever, here's the not-so-grand unison of writabulous.wordpress.com with a-glorious-gift.blogspot.com.
Every week roughly, I'll post from my tiny collection of writing pieces that deserve to be here.
In the meanwhile, you can check them out at one of these links:
writing/com/authors/sudeep1110
storywrite.com/sudeep1110
allpoetry.com/sudeep1110
The Three A's of a Great Relationship
In the last few weeks I've been a bad person. A bad friend more than anything else. I've been irritated, irritable and irritating. Now finally I've taken a break from college and am at home, unwinding and organizing my thoughts. And unexpectedly, it's working. Only a few hours of serious thinking, and I've already discovered a huge hidden part of my entangled web of ideas, and—believe it or not—I've almost entangled it too:
Relationships are probably the single most important part of life. Every relationship requires you to adjust, accommodate, and accept. These three A's can often be the difference between a lasting relationship and a failed relationship. However, it is very important to truly understand what these words really mean.
Adjust: It is very rare that someone can get along with you exactly as you are. In the real world, some (or many) small changes are required. Make those changes. These changes should not come as a burden or obligation—you would happily make them for a loved one.
Accommodate: Accommodating is the complement of adjustment, in that it has to be everywhere that adjustment is. If another person cannot adjust in a certain situation, you should accommodate. Keep in mind though, that there is no other way for this to work than on a reciprocal basis.
Watch out that adjusting and accommodating should never require you to curb your personality. Never let anyone in the world restrict you to a person that's less than the real you. Minor changes here and there are great, but a relationship that seems to become successful only if you shake up the foundations of your very being isn't a very good idea at all.
Accept: Where adjust and accommodate fail, and otherwise, acceptance comes into the picture and probably erases all negativity. Acceptance is never easy, and in fact requires more selflessness than most of us have. Yet, it is one of the strongest foundations of love. Sometimes an incompatibility cannot be removed; instead embrace it, respect it, enjoy it.
All of this said, there are two very important "boundary conditions" (engineer-speak):
1. None of the three A's (or let's say a relationship) should ever come in the way of your becoming a better human being. Be a work in progress and strive to be continuously in the process of improving. At least with me, the conscience is enough to decide which traits need to go in transcending to a higher self. So there is usually a clear line between improving and not having to curb myself.
2. Like I've mentioned already, there's no way a relationship can work unless both (or all) the persons involved contribute their share of love, attention and the three A's, among much else. If a relationship ever gets abusive, the best thing to do is to call it quits.
It's perfectly normal for things to not work out even when you have given your best. You didn't end up with a great relationship, but with a great lesson. Trust me, that's not bad at all.
From my learning, I've certainly become a happier person, and am ready to make the people around me happier. Hope this can have the same effect on you too. :)
Relationships are probably the single most important part of life. Every relationship requires you to adjust, accommodate, and accept. These three A's can often be the difference between a lasting relationship and a failed relationship. However, it is very important to truly understand what these words really mean.
Adjust: It is very rare that someone can get along with you exactly as you are. In the real world, some (or many) small changes are required. Make those changes. These changes should not come as a burden or obligation—you would happily make them for a loved one.
Accommodate: Accommodating is the complement of adjustment, in that it has to be everywhere that adjustment is. If another person cannot adjust in a certain situation, you should accommodate. Keep in mind though, that there is no other way for this to work than on a reciprocal basis.
Watch out that adjusting and accommodating should never require you to curb your personality. Never let anyone in the world restrict you to a person that's less than the real you. Minor changes here and there are great, but a relationship that seems to become successful only if you shake up the foundations of your very being isn't a very good idea at all.
Accept: Where adjust and accommodate fail, and otherwise, acceptance comes into the picture and probably erases all negativity. Acceptance is never easy, and in fact requires more selflessness than most of us have. Yet, it is one of the strongest foundations of love. Sometimes an incompatibility cannot be removed; instead embrace it, respect it, enjoy it.
All of this said, there are two very important "boundary conditions" (engineer-speak):
1. None of the three A's (or let's say a relationship) should ever come in the way of your becoming a better human being. Be a work in progress and strive to be continuously in the process of improving. At least with me, the conscience is enough to decide which traits need to go in transcending to a higher self. So there is usually a clear line between improving and not having to curb myself.
2. Like I've mentioned already, there's no way a relationship can work unless both (or all) the persons involved contribute their share of love, attention and the three A's, among much else. If a relationship ever gets abusive, the best thing to do is to call it quits.
It's perfectly normal for things to not work out even when you have given your best. You didn't end up with a great relationship, but with a great lesson. Trust me, that's not bad at all.
From my learning, I've certainly become a happier person, and am ready to make the people around me happier. Hope this can have the same effect on you too. :)
"Justify the title"*
Back in the day when I was in eighth grade, we had a literature chapter by the name of "Life's a Glorious Gift". It is a beautifully written play about the interpretation of life as a functional gift, that should be used, and not merely displayed like a piece of art on a glass showcase.
The play has a beautiful message, and especially for someone raised in a very secure environment, is an eye-opening insight into the life, thinking and strength of people--young and old--living in warn-torn areas. For me covering this play was a profound experience: it was one of the first times when we covered literature that had a more mature side to it than most children's stories. And most importantly my English teacher who taught us that year is the person who single-handedly forced the writer within me to surface. She continues to be a great source of inspiration, as well as one of my favourite people ever. (Thanks always, Namita ma'am.)
With all these thoughts in mind, I had started this blog a couple years back. My idea behind the name is more about my belief that life (human life in particular) is an invaluable gift. No matter what goes wrong, there are always ways to truly live it in a commited and fulfilling way...
Let's go out then, and starting right now, live our best lives!
*"Justify the title" was a very common question in our English exams. Ah, nostalgia...
The play has a beautiful message, and especially for someone raised in a very secure environment, is an eye-opening insight into the life, thinking and strength of people--young and old--living in warn-torn areas. For me covering this play was a profound experience: it was one of the first times when we covered literature that had a more mature side to it than most children's stories. And most importantly my English teacher who taught us that year is the person who single-handedly forced the writer within me to surface. She continues to be a great source of inspiration, as well as one of my favourite people ever. (Thanks always, Namita ma'am.)
With all these thoughts in mind, I had started this blog a couple years back. My idea behind the name is more about my belief that life (human life in particular) is an invaluable gift. No matter what goes wrong, there are always ways to truly live it in a commited and fulfilling way...
Let's go out then, and starting right now, live our best lives!
*"Justify the title" was a very common question in our English exams. Ah, nostalgia...
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