A nice poem, in fact, a very nice poem by Wislawa Szymborska. Somewhat funny, somewhat realistic… Needs no commentary from me at all, not that I am qualified to give one! Suffices to say that I enjoyed this poem tremendously. Here’s hoping that you, my dear reader, will share the experience.
True Love
True love. Is it normal
is it serious, is it practical?
What does the world get from two people
who exist in a world of their own?
Placed on the same pedestal for no good reason,
drawn randomly from millions but convinced
it had to happen this way – in reward for what?
For nothing.
The light descends from nowhere.
Why on these two and not on others?
Doesn’t this outrage justice? Yes it does.
Doesn’t it disrupt our painstakingly erected principles,
and cast the moral from the peak? Yes on both accounts.
Look at the happy couple.
Couldn’t they at least try to hide it,
fake a little depression for their friends’ sake?
Listen to them laughing – its an insult.
The language they use – deceptively clear.
And their little celebrations, rituals,
the elaborate mutual routines –
it’s obviously a plot behind the human race’s back!
It’s hard even to guess how far things might go
if people start to follow their example.
What could religion and poetry count on?
What would be remembered? What renounced?
Who’d want to stay within bounds?
True love. Is it really necessary?
Tact and common sense tell us to pass over it in silence,
like a scandal in Life’s highest circles.
Perfectly good children are born without its help.
It couldn’t populate the planet in a million years,
it comes along so rarely.
Let the people who never find true love
keep saying that there’s no such thing.
Their faith will make it easier for them to live and die.
— Wislawa Szymborska
Would very much like to know what you think about this piece…
sthira says:
“What does the world get from two people
who exist in a world of their own?”
It gives them hope and arouses a desire in them to be loved.
“Let the people who never find true love
keep saying that there’s no such thing.
Their faith will make it easier for them to live and die.”
Even those who deny that such a thing exists , wonder about it and have a smouldering hope in them that it may happen, somehow, somewhere, and perhaps they hope against hope. Seeing it in others’ lives makes it difficult for them to completely dismiss the truth of it.
Locks, many years of togetherness and love wished for you!
December 7, 2004 — 8:23 pm
Lakshmi says:
Thank you…:-)
December 8, 2004 — 5:42 am
hariputtar says:
well. (only half jokingly) once i had made a post on how imho all art etc is merely preening gesture. and some may point out, that may well be a way to rationalize my failure(s) to find true love :))
but frankly in grand scheme of things – does it matter that love exists ? think of it, the day the love-chemical is deciphered, the romance in love will be killed – my guess is some *cynical* person (like me) must be hard at work toward that goal right now 🙂 i agree however that being happy beats being sad hands down 🙂 … [ and if i want my share of love, maybe i do so, because i feel a sense of entitlement … :)) … like all good things in life, why shud i be kept from my share of *love* ]
but happiness can be derived from delusions other than *love* … whats love gotta do with it ? :)) *cheers* *hic*
December 7, 2004 — 10:15 pm
Lakshmi says:
but happiness can be derived from delusions other than *love*
Sonal, you of all people, DEFINITELY knows better than that!
December 8, 2004 — 5:43 am
hariputtar says:
why ? 😕 hmm, why do u think, i shud know *better* ?
and another one:
... jalaa hai jism jahaaN dil bhee jal gaya hoga
kuredate ho jo ab raakh, justjoo kya hai ?
rahee na taaqat-e-guftaar, aur agar ho bhee
to kis ummeed pe kahiye ke aarzoo kya hai ?
December 8, 2004 — 8:35 am
Lakshmi says:
Well, I think you have a good perception of happiness, real and imagined. Or maybe I credit you with too much of awareness…:-)
December 8, 2004 — 9:48 am
hariputtar says:
I credit you with too much of awareness 🙂: maybe 🙂
December 8, 2004 — 10:56 am
Lakshmi says:
I was kidding… 🙂
December 12, 2004 — 7:39 am
Lakshmi says:
Does justujoo mean desire? Is that the same as arzoo?
December 8, 2004 — 9:49 am
hariputtar says:
justujoo -> khoj (search)
arzoo -> desire
December 8, 2004 — 10:56 am
radhika74 says:
hmm..it’s an interesting thought..and one in which someone hit by unrequited love can find solace..but me? no way!!! i love love far too much!!!:D
December 8, 2004 — 12:01 am
Lakshmi says:
🙂
December 8, 2004 — 5:43 am
hithaz says:
Look at the happy couple.
Couldn’t they at least try to hide it,
fake a little depression for their friends’ sake?
—> If just had a breakup it makes so much sense.. Just be depressed bcos for sake of singles out there desiring just wat u have..
Let the people who never find true love
keep saying that there’s no such thing.
Their faith will make it easier for them to live and die.
—> Deep inside everyone desires for true love and it exists pure unconditional love which make every day worth living. The kind of love which makes the quote “Every breathe I take I can’t help but take one for you” sound like custom made for you. Denying true love would be missing on lifes most magical and precious feeling. cynical or not everyone desires to be loved back with the same intesity as u can love. When this happens it is called true love. Kind of love with is so beautiful to experiance more exhilataring that reading it in a boook.
December 8, 2004 — 12:03 am
Lakshmi says:
True…
December 8, 2004 — 5:43 am
hithaz says:
I hope u don’t mind I added u to my friends list.. U have a very interesting Journal. 🙂
December 8, 2004 — 11:38 pm
Lakshmi says:
Thanks.. Will add you too!
December 12, 2004 — 7:39 am
rileen says:
Amusing piece in praise of true love, perhaps a touch patronising towards the end.
December 8, 2004 — 6:04 am
tomlinsonian says:
Read this a long while ago…
I sometimes like things i dont agree with, and at other times, dislike things i agree with.
Read Gratitude by her, it starts,
I owe a great deal
to those i do not love.(i think)
December 8, 2004 — 7:44 am
Lakshmi says:
I’ll look it up on Minstrels.
December 8, 2004 — 9:49 am
arunshanbhag says:
putting my hypercritical hat on, …
I just don’t like it. Is this a translation? there is no rhthym to it. Like a rant.
🙁
December 8, 2004 — 12:30 pm
Lakshmi says:
There is no rhythm in it, I guess… And yeah, it kinda sounds like a rant. But it’s somewhat cool! Sorry you didn’t like it… Will post something nicer next time!
December 12, 2004 — 7:40 am
arunshanbhag says:
what counts is that you liked it!
🙂
December 13, 2004 — 1:25 pm
fugney says:
I get the poem, but have no opinion on “True Love”….
December 9, 2004 — 6:09 am
Lakshmi says:
That’s fine as long as you enjoyed reading the poem…
December 12, 2004 — 7:41 am