It is madness
says reason
It is what it is
says love …
It is unhappiness
says calculation
It is nothing but pain
says fear
It has no future
says insight
It is what it is
says love …
It is ridiculous
says pride
It is foolish
says caution
It is impossible
says experience
It is what it is
says love …
What it is by Erich Fried
Love this poem and read it many times. Do you love such poems?
I love many of them …
First and foremost, allow me to share Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43, ‘How Do I Love Thee?’
It begins with the iconic lines:
‘How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways…’
These two lines alone contain volumes of meaning, and I find myself revisiting them often …
There’s another poem, I love, and that is ‘Hope’ by Emily Dickinson
‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all’ …
I may not be good at recitation, but I have a deep passion for reading and appreciating the intricate artistry of language. The way words are arranged to evoke emotions, convey wisdom, and capture the essence of life, love, and nature resonates deeply with me. It’s in these moments, amidst the twists and turns of expression, that I find myself enamored with the beauty of language and the emotions it encapsulates …
See, when you read ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ by Robert Frost, won’t you just love this famous poem?
‘The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep’ …
Here’s another eloquent excerpt from the renowned poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost:
‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.’
This poem resonates deeply with me and holds a special place in my heart, as I often find myself reflecting on its message of making pivotal choices that shape one’s journey.
I have a profound admiration for another poem, namely ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.’ Its expression conjures the sense of companionship, as if the lover is spiritually present, ensuring one is not alone:
‘Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky’ …
Isn’t it beautiful?
I’m certain many of you appreciate these poems. There are numerous others, but I’d like to share just a few of my absolute favorites with you all, such as ‘Leisure’ by William Henry Davies:
‘What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare …
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.’
To selectively share excerpts from the poem is my means of conveying:
Please delve into the poems I’m presenting here—
read them when solitude surrounds you,
read them in the company of your beloved,
read them among friends,
read them with strangers,
read them in tranquility,
read them amidst chaos …
but above all, I hope you
read them in their entirety …
Read
Sharing one of my recent painting video from ‘Chaos’ series. Hope you may like it. Also I tried to read the poem ‘What It Is’. Hope you would like listening to it as well ….
And also please do share here about your favourite poems …..
Let silence reigns…
Afterwards let words flow freely, endlessly through us, like a gentle stream ….
Let certain words remain unsaid …
Let some words remain unheard …
Let silence reigns …
For if all is voiced
What remains in the silence?
For if all is listened
What remains in the voice?
Let blank pages be as it is
For me and you, for the time being or for long, long time …
Let silence reigns …
Afterwards let words flow freely, endlessly through us, like a gentle stream, unbound, serene and graceful ….
Your thoughts are coming in waves …
Ceaselessly, constantly …
Crashing upon my mind’s shorelines;
Uncontrollably …
Hijr/ urdu
(n.) the feeling of having lost or been separated from a loved one ….
My canvas of delight is
Dancing bright …
My passion is igniting
A colorful sight …
My soul is painting
A tranquil choir …
My emotion is healing
With peace and fire …
Meraki
(v.) to do something with soul, creativity or love; to leave a piece and essence of yourself in something you do …
In English we say,
I love to write …
In poetry we say,
Ink spills from the pen,
Words dance upon the page’s breath and
Each letters have taken my heartbeat
And thus poetry becomes my infinite playground …
How do you say in poetic verses about your love for writing?
I love to connect through words and I feel so happy when you write to me …. I love to read as well …. Now in poetry, how would you say that?
What if it all works out?
What if you get that call?
What if today goes unexpectedly well?
What if you have what it takes?
What if you meet someone unexpectedly?
What if today you make the day best with what you have?
What if someone is praying for you?
What if you receive that one mail?
What if someone has special feelings for you?
What if someone tells you that?
What if you go on that trip with someone for a day or two?
What if the trip takes you to another state of mind?
What if you return with a complete different state of heart?
What if you do not know what’s next?
What if the best is yet to come?
What if great things are on the way?
What if you don’t search for any answer?
What if the answer is within you?
I love all the ‘What ifs’ …
What ifs’ give me hope …
Echoes of your absence linger
In the winds of change; …
These days! ….
My heart aches
Unknowingly and why do
‘I miss you’? – I strangely sigh
These days! ….
Heimweh/ german
(n.) a longing for home
To love you again and again….
She’s truly honest
In her honest prayers …
Though within her unspeakable despair
And impossibility,
She couldn’t go away far;
But always come back quite inevitably …
All frailties alone cast upon
Her feeble hope that always exits;
Her nature reigns upon her own soul …
She holds on to her faith; yet so unfair her torments,
Make the despair ever greater
Widening her tears itself betwixt,
She watches feebly all souls’ cruel wits …
Impossibility goes not to heaven
Like a weak and an easy prey;
Thinking is not same as knowing,
So at her best, she spends in praying,
Trusting each and everyday.
At times, she tries to cease time
But not her endless pray ….
(Whatever you wish:
You know that you know
But know you not;
Truth is her lord
And always you shall be;
‘My dear, (she whispers)
I’ll serve what you deserve,
Even if you talk
So ungratefully.
:Whenever you wish)
The injustice rankles yet
More often loving comes to her aid.
It is always worth keeping,
Her emotion that rises and trips away springs;
For the sake of her truth, she brings
The words that breathe a reason
Scaring the unfinished conversation even with self …
Though her skies are too dark (at the moment)
With flowers in odor and in hue in sight,
Now she excludes all and wanders through the night …
Being more calm and bright,
Letting all her doubts, thoughts and emotions pass by
To enter the heaven, the endless light,
Lastly, she takes her flight.
So long, she loved at her best,
A bittersweet farewell to her dear is the rest …
She writes her last inscription just to let you in,
‘Please don’t hurt my soulful prayers,
Forgive my selfish tears ….
As I would take rebirth in this world,
With my passion for you
Deep, and fully blooming
And quivers with bliss.’
Above, a bit complex verses, though I think it’s fine …
In a poem I usually use whatever can be called the melody long before I have reached an understanding of all that it might mean. Sometimes I think I can use that to my hearts’ fullness and other time I feel that it’s unfinished yet again conveying the emotions which convince me to love it as it is …
To me, poetry attracts when only emotions endures ….
What aspects of poetry attracts you the most?
I put my heart and soul into my work, and I have lost my mind in the process.
-Vincent Willem Van Gogh
It is true for each of my creative works. My paintings have its stories and often they echo my deep-rooted emotions and deep talk with myself. I live in each of its stories and moments of creativity.
So here I so very wish to share my stories of two paintings with you all.
A Tale of Twin Paintings
Finally Falguni has the other twin painting tittle ‘Hope Shines’. I am super happy that she has chosen this one. And then there the first twin painting titled ‘Follow the Soothing Breeze, Here’ already owned by my daughter …
Why am I saying this two paintings as ‘TWIN PAINTINGS’?
Because I painted this two paintings simultaneously, keeping them side by side using only one art paper, dividing them with masking tapes. And they both have the same wavelengths I felt at the time I was painting them. While I was working on this Twins, during their creative process, colouring, taking pauses, brushing, re-brushing, stroking the brushes here and there, I remember I was contemplating on various things, specially doing meaningful purposeful work for the rest of my life. A purpose greater than life itself. Many a times I felt discouraged and demotivated, but never ever I felt lost as to what next. I’ve been always having different ideas to move forward in life. Never look back what I couldn’t, but moving forward what I can. Just like the titles of the Twin Paintings, I have been following a Soothing Breeze instilled in my heart all my life keeping my ‘Hope’ Shines throughout this life’s journey so far ….
Amazing, na?
Now I’m so glad that one twin painting is with my little sister-friend Falguni, and the other twin has its permanent residence at my dear daughter’s far away homesweethome.
When I first shared the two paintings after seemingly finishing them with my daughter, she immediately asked me to keep the ‘Follow the Soothing Breeze Here’ painting for her. I just loved the urgency to book the painting for herself. So I did keep it aside for her, happily. Last time I visited NY, I took that painting for her home there. She has already few of my paintings at her home. Now all the people come to visit her place, they ask her about the paintings and she feels so proud to let them know, ‘My mom is an artist. These are her paintings.’ She has been my very own cheerleader from the day I started the painting journey in 2020. And from then onwards, I listened to her many suggestions for my Jian Bird Creates and my painting journey. She absolutely adores my creative style of living and specially this journey inspires her to follow the soothing breeze deep inside her loving beautiful heart for herself.
Now ‘Hope Shines’ had lost its Twin and was alone, passing its days with other dazzling paintings around it. One day Falguni came at my Fund raising event ‘Meet & Greet’ for love and light. She walked through my small Jian Bird Gallery, and there she found her ‘Hope Shines’. As definitely always her hope shines through all the ups and downs of life’s tragic and unexpected happenings and yet she continues to shine ✨ For that reason or some other, she decided to own the ‘Hope Shines’ …
For an artist, the canvas is his life, breath and philosophy. So when someone owns their artwork or creative piece, and genuinely wants to keep those with them, I as an artist consider it as honor. I feel they can relate to the piece as I do. And for most of my artworks, I had this conversational experience to tell a story or to evoke an emotion. And there are some who wants me to attach the story with it. I feel it’s a complete connection, from soul to soul.
Now I know my very first TWIN paintings will always remain as their beloved treasures at their soul-home wherever they go. They are themselves two amazing souls in the beautiful Earth, self-made, selfless and strong.
Lastly, I just want to say to ALL of you;
Never forget. Hope shines only for those who believe.
Thanks, kindly, for stopping by and reading this long note from me.
Warmly,
Roksana
#roksanatales
JianBirdGallery❄️ JianBirdCreates
Life is somewhat grey
Everywhere
Just monotony
Lost and lonely …
Don’t you know?
Only when you stay
Life is colorful ….
A hopeful glow
Echoes of brighter joy
Birds sing cheerful songs
Rays of sunshines warm my cheeks
My yellow dyed dreams return …
Now it’s grey
Everywhere …
When will you come?
Without you, I feel grey ….
Don’t you know?
Grey isn’t what I’m meant to be …
Midst the silence of the valley
As I walk through
I feel
My hurt inside is too loud …
Midst the silence of the valley
As I walk through
I feel
I’ll never ever forget you …
Midst the silence of the valley
As I walk through
I feel
I just don’t want to let you go
But inside I know I must …
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The dawn was breaking
You looked at me
I looked at you
The place was a haunting one
The light was shining
And
You and I collide
Yet we never kissed …
You never touched my face …
What could I say?
What could I do?
There I stood, unknowing
What’s happening
In a world full of billions
There were you
Mixed with all of the chaos
Inside and Out
At that very moment
I somehow felt
You and I collide
For a reason …
When
The dawn was breaking
You looked at me
I looked at you
…
If only you would realize some day, how much have you hurt me,
If only your heart ever, craves for me or my presence…
If only you feel that love again someday for me,
If only you are affected someday by my absence…
Only you can end all my suffering and this unbearable pain,
If only you would know what you could never procure…
If only you go through the memories of past once again,
Since the day you left my heart has bled, no one has its cure…
If only you would bring that love, those showers and that rain…
If only you would come back and see what damage you create,
I’ve been waiting for your return since forever more…
If only you would see the woman that you have made,
You said we cannot sail through, how were you so sure?
If only you can feel the old things that can never fade,
You may have moved on, but a piece of my heart is still with you…
I know how I’ve come so far alone; I know how I’m able to wade,
People say that I’m insane and you won’t ever come back again…
Maybe you would have never made your separate way,
Maybe you would have stayed with me and proved everyone wrong…
If only you would know the pain of dying every day,
If only you would feel the burden of smiling and being strong…
– Mehek Bassi, Chained: Can you escape fate?
Hello Everyone, I’m so delighted to let all of you know that I’ll be organising an in house exhibition, titled ‘Meet & Greet’ for the theme of ‘Love & Light’.
All the details are in the link:
https://fb.me/e/3jE0l7WS9?mibextid=RQdjqZ
I’m already thankful and grateful for each of the gift of purchase from JBC’s ‘Love & Light’ project (Greeting Cards & Little Easel Paintings). The gifts are going to be DOUBLED as a ‘Giveaway’ from Jian Bird Creates to any non-profit organization working for the climate change movement, empowerment and education for women and children, or sustainability locally and globally.
So, ‘Meet & Greet’ and be a part of JBC’s ‘Love & Light’ project and help make an impact in the community and beyond.
Registration is must: Fill up the form to join the event:
https://forms.gle/z8iNSbri9zsQhSsc6
If you kindly come, I’ll be super happy for your presence at my humble event.
I hope to see you there, in shaAllah
With love,
Roksana Amelia
.
.
‘We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
Mother Teresa
.
Each flower reflects God’s perfect glory,
Quietly drifting along the wondrous things around;
Though unfinished it seems,
There is magic
In its vibrant colours!
.
How vibrant are you in reflecting your magic around?
.
.
#roksanatales
#JianBirdCreates
#JianBirdGallery❄️
Roksana Tales 