Poem 6: Lead by Mary Oliver

The last line can save us and lead us to a better world!

Lead – Mary Oliver

Here is a story

to break your heart.
Are you willing?
This winter
the loons came to our harbor
and died, one by one,
of nothing we could see.
A friend told me
of one on the shore
that lifted its head and opened
the elegant beak and cried out
in the long, sweet savoring of its life
which, if you have heard it,
you know is a sacred thing.,
and for which, if you have not heard it,
you had better hurry to where
they still sing.
And, believe me, tell no one
just where that is.
The next morning
this loon, speckled
and iridescent and with a plan
to fly home
to some hidden lake,
was dead on the shore.
I tell you this
to break your heart,
by which I mean only
that it break open and never close again
to the rest of the world.

Poem 5: Poetry by Pablo Neruda

A beautiful description of poetry and inspiration...fever or forgotten wings...

Poetry  – by Pablo Neruda 

And it was at that age … Poetry arrived

in search of me. I don’t know, I don’t know where

it came from, from winter or a river.

I don’t know how or when,

no they were not voices, they were not

words, nor silence,

but from a street I was summoned,

from the branches of night,

abruptly from the others,

among violent fires

or returning alone,

there I was without a face

and it touched me.

I did not know what to say, my mouth

had no way

with names,

my eyes were blind,

and something started in my soul,

fever or forgotten wings,

and I made my own way,

deciphering

that fire,

and I wrote the first faint line,

faint, without substance, pure

nonsense,

pure wisdom

of someone who knows nothing,

and suddenly I saw

the heavens

unfastened

and open,

planets,

palpitating plantations,

shadow perforated,

riddled

with arrows, fire and flowers,

the winding night, the universe.

And I, infinitesimal being,

drunk with the great starry

void,

likeness, image of

mystery,

felt myself a pure part

of the abyss,

I wheeled with the stars,

my heart broke loose on the wind.

To the phenomenon!

AverageWizard.com (the MLIA for Harry Potter nerds): 

To those who cried when they counted up the deaths. To those who waited in line for hours at midnight to get the first copies of the book. To those who watched every movie. To those who were very annoyed when some of the movies just didn't match up. To those who cried the second time they read the book, and Fred said, "When I get married." and they realized it wouldn't happen. To those whose books fell to pieces from being read to much. To the Harry Potter generation. To Dumbledore's Army. To the Muggle branch of Dumbledore's Army. To Dobby, Fred, Hedwig, Tonks, Lupin, and all of the nameless dead wizards. To The Greatest Series Of All Time. To Hogwarts, and To Dumbledore and Sirius. To everyone who will cry after the movie. To Us. The Harry Potter Generation. LONG LIVE HOGWARTS!!!

Personally;

To all the discussions and madness!! :) fb should have an option' love it', like is not enough. to those who waited months for the sequels to know harry's future. to those who cheered him while fighting voldemort in theatres. to those who discussed even the most obscure spells and characters.to those who protested to keep oliver wood in 3rd film. :) to those who kept changing their opinion about snape. he deserves at least that. :) to those who grew up with harry -The 'harry potter generation'. to jkr for writing it, and writing it so well!! its an end of an era! feeling lucky to be a part of the phenomenon.

7 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

I shared this reading list on FB as separate posts, however I think they would look good together too. Sharing these 7 unique books which helped me appreciate different things around us.

1. The Ancestor's Tale by Richard Dawkins

The Ancestor's Tale by Richard Dawkins & Yan Wong helps understand and appreciate biological Evolution (and Phylogeny i.e. evolutionary trees). Unlike other evolution books which start from primeval life to present. This comprehensive book journeys backwards in evolutionary history starting from present humans with creatures/pilgrims added in this backward journey. Interestingly, this arrangement is inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.

Our shared ancestry with other living beings unravels as the book travels back in time to different nodes/common ancestors. There are 40 exciting rendezvous with interesting creatures/pilgrims before reaching the last common ancestor which the authors call "concestor". It also explains different evolutionary phenomena and relationships throughout the narrative. This book is very informative and a good read at the same time.

2. Middlemarch by George Eliot

Middlemarch by George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) is one of the longest books I read but never got bored of. It has an interesting mix of experience, narration, dialogues and incidents to discuss issues including status of women, marriage, idealism, self-interest, religion, hypocrisy, politics, etc, most of which are relevant even now. 

3. The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach

Although it says love story in description, this book is more about a person's journey and contemplation... A book when self help and mindfulness ideas were developing but not bound by it as they were not yet formed. It also represents diversity in many forms which was uncommon for its times. One more thing I like about it is one of the themes about taking ownership for nature surrounding us and need to do so. It attracts contradictory critical reviews and opinions but will be forever a favourite book of mine.

"We're the bridge across forever, arching above the sea, adventuring for our pleasure, living mysteries for the fun of it, choosing disasters triumphs challenges impossible odds, testing ourselves over and again, learning love and love and love!"

4. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

'Manuscripts don't Burn'

The Master and Margarita is a critique of Soviet society and its literary establishment during Stalin's regime. The story behind the making of this masterpiece is heartening and inspiring too. It was secretly written by Mikhail Bulgakov and was published by his wife 28 years after his death; aptly justifying the quote in the book - 'Manuscripts don't Burn'!

I just started reading it, where the Satan visits an atheist society and its people in Moscow in the 1930s. The story has many cultural references, symbolism, philosophical insights and worth the effort due to the satire, its plot and exploration of different human emotions. It has elements of Magic Realism explored by few of my favourite authors like Gabriel García Márquez, Jorge Luis Borges, Haruki Murakami, and extending the definition a bit also Rowling and Harry Potter. The book basically troubles one in a good way.

5. Feluda by Satyajit Ray

I like these mystery stories because of the candid and quaint descriptions of Indian cities and their characteristics and the endearing lead characters.

6. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and its Marathi Translation 'Choughi Jani'by Shanta Shelke

I equally like Little Women and its Marathi Translation Çhoughi Jani, which is rare. This book is too well known for description but Joey and Rachel's exchange, in Friends, with 'Joey, Do you want to put the book in the fridge' kind of sums it up (how heartening and engaging it is).

         

7. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster

A Room with a View by E M Forster; like the name which can be interpreted in different ways; is a comedy, romance and social critique at the same time. A cool British novel which portrays contrasts and dilemmas really well, to quote the book - “Life is easy to chronicle, but bewildering to practice."

Sorrow – Close and Afar

So on a summer's day waves collect, overbalance, and fall; collect and fall; and the whole world seems to be saying 'that is all' more and more ponderously, until even the heart in the body which lies in the sun on the beach says too 'that is all'. Fear no more, says the heart. Fear no more, says the heart, committing its burden to some sea, which sighs collectively for all sorrows, and renews, begins, collects, lets fall.― Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway

In the Times of the Corona Pandemic, life is chaotic with things out of hands and out of scale. And add losses and shocking losses of people, famous or otherwise, to other reasons during these times. All may not be living with those losses but we do live with the empathy for those who are going through it. Is it that being always occupied in the usual race with time, people and tasks leaves some people weak in dealing with life without the race? What can one do when not to think or do something is more useful too? It is a tide of human trials and triumphs and being an observer too is not easy. 


But then what in life is easy or simple? The obvious good impacts, especially those in nature, show the uses of humanity slowing down. And this slowness also helps to learn and build mental strength and search for answers and questions and simple pleasures and most importantly peace. We have to learn to live with the virus and we have to learn to live with sorrows and hopes while living with it. One cannot use false optimism nor despairing pessimism but rather common sense to find a balance. And change from trying to stay ahead to being able to stay well. And yes... help and support others to do so as well. 

Poem 4: You deserve a lover by Frida Kahlo

You deserve a lover…

You deserve a lover who wants you disheveled, with everything and all the reasons that wake you up in a haste and the demons that won’t let you sleep.

You deserve a lover who makes you feel safe, who can consume this world whole if he walks hand in hand with you; someone who believes that his embraces are a perfect match with your skin.

You deserve a lover who wants to dance with you, who goes to paradise every time he looks into your eyes and never gets tired of studying your expressions.

You deserve a lover who listens when you sing, who supports you when you feel shame and respects your freedom; who flies with you and isn’t afraid to fall.

You deserve a lover who takes away the lies and brings you hope, coffee, and poetry.

— Frida Kahlo

I thought I will stick to my own words when maintaining this blog but then there are some words and thoughts, especially poetry, which personally affect you – so sharing them here too.

I liked these simple yet profound words coming from a lady who contributed to arts and society in many ways but was not duly appreciated in her own time. And yet her spirit longs for both doing those things and being with someone who appreciates that. I truly resonate with the thought of choosing optimism as key to a good life.

I believe the phrase  'You deserve' is the most important part here and the lover (though preferably an actual one) could be anyone who understands what one is going through. And hope, coffee and poetry are the best things to get and cherish after all!