When we are souls set free

K is always right! With her editorial advice that is. She loves the first line. She thinks that’s poetry, in itself a complete poem. It’s like all you would need to say in a card. She reads on. Our favorite lines in the poem are the same. I’m secretly pleased that she gets emotional reading it. Then she reads it out aloud to me. And we both savor our favorite parts of this, my newest poem, which I now think is part self love, part, self worth.

“It’s too long, mum,” she then quips. “In the age of Tik Tok, and very short clips..” 

I get her point, and had known it too. But every line was important for me. I even moved the stanzas around. Now I don’t think it needs any explanation or justification. K’s words stay with me all night. And first thing in the morning, I implement a 50% reduction and keep the most cherished content. Like decluttering. I think she will be pleased with this:

For as long as the heart beats, it feels. Love.

When we are souls, you and I

Souls set free to be,

Souls without weighty ties,

Just souls, free to be you and me. 

You see through my sunken cheeks,

My toothless grin brings on your smile,

And I will overlook your failing sight,

With my words, I will be your eyes.

And I will hold your hand, 

And you can be my crutch,

Through skin and bones, in our souls

The love between us is too much. 

I will take you to see all the trees

That in faraway lands I befriended

I will share my lessons learned 

How Nature my life has mended.

But most of all, I will describe the sky,

Each new day, it regales with splendor

For senescence is of the flesh

As souls, to joy we surrender.

For as long as the heart beats, it feels. Love.

Veenu Banga

11:10 pm

September 19, 2024.

Edited: 9:42 am 

09/26/2024

———

 For as long as the heart beats, it feels. Love.

When we are souls set free

Of worldly duties and responsibilities

We take a bold step forward, and

Long-held longings become probabilities. 

When we are souls, you and I

Souls set free to be,

Souls without weighty ties,

Just souls, free to be you and me. 

You see through my sunken cheeks,

My toothless grin brings on your smile,

And I will overlook your failing sight,

With my words, I will be your eyes.

And I will hold your hand, 

And you can be my crutch,

Through skin and bones, in our souls

The love between us is too much. 

Why can we not just soul to soul,

Now explore the world together. 

You let me show you what I’ve seen

And to each other, we tether.

And I will hold your hand, 

And you clasp yours in mine,

Discharged our duties with honor 

Be it known, now it is our time.

You tell me all about your world 

Since before we came together,

And how you found it lacking 

How with your skills you made it better.

And I will take you to see all the trees

That in faraway lands I befriended

I will share my lessons learned 

How Nature my life has mended.

But most of all, I will describe the sky,

Each new day, it regales with splendor

And we can oooh and aah in joyous glee,

To our love for Nature, we surrender. 

For senescence is of the flesh

Souls are as pure as when we are born,

Sometimes children, sometimes youth

The first flush of love our days adorn.

For as long as the heart beats, it feels. Love.

Veenu Banga

11:10 pm

September 19, 2024.