Friday, December 30, 2011

Death: 'From not being yourself'





Perfect Poet Award, Week 57


In the far corners of different streets lay two closed houses
One fine day you knocked on mine..and I on yours
We both opened them with creaking hesitancy
Just to let in some fresh air perhaps…

But then, with the suddenness of realization
Of happiness unfamiliar..the doors closed on us
Society had of course ordered-
Be X..be Y..be Z
But never be you

The closed doors remained closed forever
In the pungent smell of decay..
And goodness coated with maturity
The smell then turned to poison

One day when each of us had died
Of good manners, maturity and society
And wrapped ourselves in the incense of the heavens ..

We wished
We had died of being ourselves..


© 2011 Maitreyee Bhattacharjee Chowdhury

Image courtesy http://www.gaylecurry.com/100paintings/karenorr/ko_painting21.html

15 comments:

The Unknowngnome said...

It's a beautiful I love you, to be or not to be.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

fantastic story.

Sasha A. Palmer said...

I enjoyed your poem. Life is such a precious gift.
Happy New Year!

Preeti S. said...

Beautiful and thought-provoking with an impressive use of metaphors and imagery. The identity of self is precious and that's what your poem conveys.

Anonymous said...

I love the metaphor and presentation. This part is especially moving:

"One day when each of us had died
Of good manners, maturity and society
And wrapped ourselves in the incense of the heavens ..

We wished
We had died of being ourselves"

Wow, you really socked me with the ending.

~Shawna
(rosemarymint.wordpress.com)

Isadora said...

Enjoyed this poem ... interesting piece. Happy Rally ..
Isadora
http://insidethemindofisadora.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/i-was-the-child/

Marbles in My Pocket said...

So true, and so very well said. A very good write!
http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/another-will-be-born/

Raj said...

You touched a wound that is fresh in most of our hearts.

Anonymous said...

ouch! truth always hurts, good job though!
enjoy the rally!
http://lynnaima.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/unhinged-reconstruction-meq/

Ostensible Truth said...

ah this is powerful! "Society had of course ordered-
Be X..be Y..be Z
But never be you" - and the final line - so true! nice write, good seeing this up at the poetry palace blog!

umashankar said...

They all lead to the same destination,
But for most of us it is always that road not taken.
Fare thee well,
my unaccompanied companion!

Prashanth said...

Wow...great poem loved the last para. Lucky are those who could be themselves.

P!yu said...

felt salty dew between my eyelashes after reading this, something i always feel but couldn't scribble, Kudos to you.

http://cerebralrendezvous.blogspot.com/

rch said...

This is great, I'd rather die myself than live forever constrained by societal strings, outstanding!

Maitreyee Bhattacharjee Chowdhury said...

Thanks so much everyone of you :)