Category Archives: Life Journey Poems & Prose

Rajani Radhakrishnan, a Poet worth visiting

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One of the joys of blogging is connecting with other bloggers and it is a special pleasure to connect with those whose words resonate in deeper ways. Rajani RadhaKrishnan is a poet from Bangalore, India whose writing strikes such a chord.

First, although I enjoy poetry in many of its forms, I make no pretense of being any sort of authority on the subject. I simply know what I like. I came across Rajani’s work as I searched WordPress for other world views I could relate to. Rajani’s poetry of intimate immediacy and alluring metaphors, captivated me. In part, this is because the intricate complexities of  her Indian culture push me to stretch my mental horizons. In part because the subjects she writes about are universal, simply one poet’s view of a different side of the same life mountain we all struggle to climb.

Rajani’s poetry is richly colored, sublimely sensual, and always thought provoking. Here is a passage from her recent chapbook, “The Night is My Mirror.”

Things that may not end 

The unfinished poem is my safe place. The map I was

given had no home or river or road — just a cloud-masked

sky hiding stars in frenzied kinesis. Whoever said it was all

about the journey, did not frame love as a destination. Or

as a beginning. But an incomplete poem neither travels nor

waits. Its flaws are not bound by linear time or karmic

causality. The final words will come in random sequence,

one unremarkable morning between the mundane and the

rain. The poem-to-be is the circumference of hope, hope that

the rainbow is the impulsive confession of the wettest light.

-Rajani Radhakrishnan 2020
You can enjoy Rajani’s poetry and find her books on her WordPress website, “ThotPurge, Incomplete Thoughts” –  https://thotpurge.wordpress.com/

tio stib

Hope

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what pulls us back to life each day 

is it duty 
a job to do 
commitments 
responsibilities 

or is there something more 
something beyond routine
beyond the mundane 
beyond “just another day” 

beyond “should” 

beyond “have to” 

what is it that gets us up in spite
of stormy thoughts
in spite of 
frenzied fears
clouds of tears that drown the sun
tragic memories that drag us down 

struggling to assure my mind 
a new day will be better 
I can only answer for myself 

somehow 
something 
will make the effort of living worthwhile 

in this purgatory moment
it is hope that feeds my hungry heart 
it is hope that soothes my aching soul 

it is my hope
that love will show the way

tio stib 

You might also enjoy: Inspiration; If 

Be Still and Know

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Be Still and Know

veiled in mindless mystery
the new year starts with fog
a wind of chilled uncertainty
a silent shroud of doubt

there are no sounds of distant trains
no birds, no passersby
no dreamy thoughts of far off Springs

just loneliness
just me
just I

but as I hear my trembling heart
craving love’s sweet warmth

whisper words from long ago

be still

be still and know

tio stib

You might also enjoy: If; Inspiration

Burning Dreams

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today
I burned our dreams

all the visions
all the goals
all the plans we’d made together

I placed them on a funeral pyre

lit them up

let them go

watched them melt in flames
felt them float away in smoke

and I smiled

for together
we lived those dreams
walking hand in hand

in the heart of God

tio stib

You might also enjoy: The Memory of a Single Rose; Inspiration

Shape Shifting

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the mirror of life stares back at me
a history of those times once free
the many men I’d tried to be
the many worlds I’d longed to see
so many new realities
I lived in hopes of finding me

some were good and some were bad
there were happy times and sad
joyful moments and some quite mad
questing for the dreams I had

some lasted days, some only hours
some grew from seeds to lovely flowers
but then the moment finally came
when each went up in spirit’s flame

was I born a vagabond
to never settle down for long
to never truly quite belong
heart pulled on by distant song

lovers, friends, and passersby
I’ve known them all
said my goodbyes
but now, as I face the end
I wonder if I’ll fly again

the caterpillar exists to eat
the pupa then goes off to sleep
and in its sacred, silky place
transforms into a different face

and so I build my new cocoon
as life within me starts to swoon
in hopes that with the coming moon
I will stretch my wings once more
and fly away to distant shores

so begins my every day
shape shifting in the cosmic play

tio stib
2016, 2018, 2019, 2020

You might also enjoy: Paddling a Submarine vs. Living an Authentic Life, A Friend Passes

Breakfast of Memories

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for fifty years they’d each returned
back to the same cafe
gathered round the same table
these small town knights
slowly sipping coffee
reviving the Camelot of their youth
alive again
in a breakfast of memories

stories swirled
more smiles than scars
the pranks, the mindless adventures
girlfriends real, love imagined
mountains climbed and races won
friends recalled and gone

they talked of how they’d loved this place
had never thought to leave
but life and time had swept them off
to chase their separate dreams

not one head turned to watch them go
the gray men and their ghosts
and silence roared to fill the void
of legends lost to most

tio stib
2019, 2020

You might also enjoy: A Friend Passes, Life Journey Poems & Prose

First Snow

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first snow
white oblivion
whispers
to sleeping earth

hush…

let go
frantic mind
surrender

hush…

forgive your past
your sins
your separation

hush…

a blanket
of serenity

hush

white oblivion
cuddles me
in love’s eternity

first snow
melts,
drips
slowly
down the face
of my soul

hush…

Tio Stib

2014, 2019, 2020

You might also enjoy: A Mirrored Smile, Life Journey Poems & Prose

The Blind Side Parables – 15

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Jimmy Jacks loved action, the adrenaline rush of suspense, the excitement of unexpected surprises. This is why he nearly knocked over the bowl of popcorn on his basketball size belly when his team’s quarterback connected on a deep pass to a wide receiver who dodged a defender and dashed into the end zone.

“Touchdown!” yelled Jimmy as he threw both hands high in the air.

“Ouch!” he muttered to himself, remembering that his seldom stressed body was not accustomed to such exertion. He settled back into the couch and the more cautionary exercise of popping snacks into his mouth, topped off with the occasional gulp of beer.

Ah, this is the life, he thought, then suddenly realized that the popcorn bowl was empty. Loathe to break a sweat or make any unnecessary movement if at all possible, he considered his options.

The dog, who had long ago adopted his master’s sedentary habits and lay asleep in front of the television, was not going to help.

Marla, his most recent girlfriend, was gone over six months now. She’d quickly realized that his sole reason for picking her up at the local bar was to have someone who would fetch cold beer during his sofa sitting sports watching sessions.

What’s a man to do, thought he who had completely committed himself to a life of vicarious pleasure.

“Ow!” Jimmy cringed as his quarterback was annihilated by an onrushing defensive end.

Moral: Nothing ventured, nothing pained.

tio stib

You might also enjoy: The Blind Side Parables – 14; Taxi School