I loved him
In seamless breaths
And beyond repair,
The distortions, now
Hang heavy 'round him
On close call,
We ran after shadows,
But he -
Never to return.
I love him
In seamless breaths
For I am beyond repair
Till I love him
Less and less.
Author's Note:
I read T.S. Eliot's 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' a couple of minutes ago and I realized how much I have loved that poem ever since I first read it in class (under the much-needed tutelage of my professor). I'm not sure if my piece really connects with Eliot's poem, but the poem was there in the back of my mind while writing this.
And if you are anything like me, you would feel baffled to know that Eliot also wrote incredible verses for kids - full of wit, humour and tight poetic structure. I expected him to be a no-fun kind of guy but then, I guess, we writers don way too many roles and voices and personas.
Seamless breaths, I admire the imagery ~ To love less and less would seem the answer, sadly ~
ReplyDeleteWell, to be honest, it's not really that easy to allow any love to die out. It's a painful process. But I think, some kinds of love grow up to become so distorted that their presence itself becomes a kind of pain. (A wild thought - is it really 'love' that I am talking about or some kind of obsessive attachment?)
DeleteThank you so much for stopping by, Grace. :)
the repetition lines...loving in seamless breathe is very cool...a bit sad to lose him to the shadows though...i need to check out the poem by elliot, as i cant recall it right off...
ReplyDeleteI hope you like Eliot's poem - it's one of my favourites! Also, "seamless breaths" is my favourite line too (maybe that's why I couldn't use it merely once, haha)
DeleteThank you for stopping by to read, Brian. :)
any time....and i did enjoy the return to elliot...i hope you have a wonderful sunday
DeleteYou have a knack for writing about those entanglements of the heart. I love "beyond repair" in this, especially, and your close. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI certainly seem to be writing more and more about it. I guess, some things stir my heart and my mind more than anything else. I'm glad to know you liked this piece.
DeleteThank you for stopping by! :)
I too have been running after shadows a lot it seems, all my life in fact, so this poem is soul-searing. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWe all run after shadows time to time. What is important is to quit the meaningless chase and turn back to the reality. Glad to know you could relate to this. Thank you! :)
DeleteThat's what love is ... hope and despair, smiles and tears :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed. Thanks for stopping by. :)
Deletecan you love someone less and less by purpose?
ReplyDelete... wish I could..
seems to me, that I've only loved less when I wasn't paying attention... but when I try, when I really try... it just gets worse.. the loving I mean... not the less loving..
this is beautiful
My current 'theory' on love is that it thrives on attention. To thrive or to get distorted, love needs constant attention. So, the phrase "less and less" is something similar to a musical note fading out into silence.
DeleteThank you for stopping by to read. Glad to know you liked it. :)
You really captured the essence of love here...
ReplyDeleteI tried. :)
DeleteLove can be painful in its beauty. I especially love the ending. A lovely write!
ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
Deletethe beautiful love filled bond
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed. But it doesn't always stay that way. Thank you for reading. :)
Deleteseparation has its pains for us all. thanks for sharing prufrock.its my favourite poem as well. if you find time, read my swansong of abinash.c. halder
ReplyDeleteI appreciate Eliot's poems more than the poet himself. He employs the idea of 'impersonality' only to well in his works. Thanks for stopping by! :)
DeleteAlso, I cannot find the poem you mentioned. Do post the link here, in the comments.
Deleteless and less?...reality is very cruel...a lovely write Preeti :)
ReplyDeleteAnd that is why it is the reality, mostly out of our control to shape it. Thank you for stopping by! :)
Deleteinteresting way of writing.. i like it.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that. Thank you for reading. :)
DeleteIn modern language... OMG ...my favorite T.S.Eliot poem of all time. Even my children read this piece over and over again, which I've read to them on cold winter nights by the fireplace, or, at the kitchen table.
ReplyDeleteNow as my pant legs fall below the heels of my shoes and fray the cuffs and I court no one, I peel an apple and watch the day go by.
Wonderful piece! Your choice has given me respect for your art.
ZQ
Thank you very much for your kind words. :)
DeleteThe changing faces of love. I like how your poem twists and turns.
ReplyDeleteYes, but it is sometimes difficult to come to terms with a change that you believed you had avoided. Thanks for reading. :)
DeleteVery poignant - "we chased after shadows but he never to return". The changing patterns of love, well told.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know you liked it. Thanks for reading. :)
Deletejust, wow.
ReplyDeleteThank you. :)
DeleteWhat Laura said. This feels so real.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that. Thank you. :)
DeleteIf things are to remain seamless, a rip/tear is beyond repair. Invisible stitching is a skill incompatable with feeling, which must have patches and more patches. What a powerful poem! Thanks for the TS Eliot ... my trousers are rolled.
ReplyDeleteA brilliant articulation of my poem's central idea. Glad to know you liked it. And yes, this poem is Eliot at his best. Thanks for reading. :)
DeleteThe repetition in the first and fourth stanzas is particularly effective-brings the poem full circle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by to read. :)
Delete