How do i love thee…
Let me count the ways
Has love departed when I knew you
Or has it dwelt in the chambers of my heart forever?
If I love you then, shall I love you still?
Or if life is a sorrow,
Could I ever love you for eternity?
I ask my self with exceeding joy and with heartfelt pain
For my head keeps asking…
How do I love thee?
Can one count the ways?
I was walking around this abandoned school one day and stumbled upon an old newspaper neatly folded in fourths under an old desk.
The paper was in good shape so I went on and read. One story caught my attention. This is how it goes..
On a distant future, in the galaxy called Astronoma, an expedition was launched to scan the outer space for other life forms. The shuttle left the planet Nerio with high hopes of finding a planet they have longed believed to contain minimal, if not basic life form. A planet that was called Earth by its inhabitants.
The travelers’ technology was so advanced, it can scour a medium-sized galaxy in approximately 2 Nerian days.
After about 27 galaxies or so, they reached a greyish to black planet that seemed to contain highly inorganic chemicals. This uniqueness prodded the travelers to do an ocular inspection of the area, bring with them samples, etcetera.
The shuttle was penetrating through its thick and heavy atmosphere of dark gas. Suddenly, a thud was heard. The shuttle has just reached the top of a cliff. Equipped with impenetrable fluid steel suits, the team opened their shuttle to the new found land.
On their front lay endless acres of wasteland but not a sign of life. A safe slope led them to the low land. There, they saw what seemed to be ruins of structures built by someone or something. The team went on theorizing possibilities. They went on looking for signs of life but could not find any.
There were piles of smooth rocks which the team debated whether those were made or simply broken space wastes, finding its way in that small inhabitable planet.
Right side of the lowland was a mass of green goo, mostly inorganic, radiating across the land. That answered where that misty feel of the planet came from. It was glowing in the dim thick air.
Seeing enough, the team changed their mind and decided not to take samples anymore as their short expedition has led them to conclude how irrelevant the huge wasteland was.
As their research back in their own planet has led them to conclude that chemicals and materials could react and recreate without the aid of life and could take up form without intelligence, they have finally decided that life has never existed on that planet. The team was quickly wrapped up and went on to continue for their search of that Planet Earth, a journey that may never end for Earth has become beyond recognizable as an inhabited planet – forever.
Just as when I finished the story, a strong wind blew and tore the paper into pieces. Out went a story i could never forget.
When life’s a drag, take me with you.
Take me to where no one has ever gone before.
If it is towards the abyss of your boundless mind,
Then tie my arms around you..
Where life could hold the depths of my imagination.
If strength fails me, my heartbeat won’t,
for when life’s a drag, my heart is with you!
It has been quite some time since I sat down and gave my notes a quick dab of ink. The walk has been tough and rocky.
As I am writing now, beneath my silver skin lies a weary soul, a soul trying to find a restful place. Though my galactic body keeps on treading the planetary rings of Saturn and the restless meteors moving aimlessly in outer space, not everything of me is invincible. My very own shell puts weight on my heart – the orb of power where my life source lies.
An armor made out of Glociesima, a thin invisible film wrapping every part of my body keeps me from being blown to pieces. This material was created by my people from the core of my planet – its substance with strength and clarity the same with what you call diamond but with malleability the same with that of gold. Drafted with the heat of the stars, armors such as this are bestowed only upon those who choose to discover other worlds.
To you humans, I look very much like you. But for me and my co-space travelers, we are very much different. Many things are difficult to explain to you, many defy your known Physics and Chemistry. Our language does not entail a sound – for we talk with the beat of our life source.
Wind does not make us cold nor the sun make us sweat. Time does not age our bodies. Yet, we are born and reborn. We do not bury our dead. Instead, we carry them in our life source.
Language to us is not a barrier. We speak with words that are unique to one race yet when any from our world communicate with one among us, we understand what each mean. We multiply with joining of souls, not with joining of bodies. We carry our unborn together, “maliku” and “felllima” (male and female) until it is born for it does not exist when we go apart.
These, and endless more I can speak of me and my world. But to many, what I speak does not mean anything. To those who wish to see, more than keeping an open mind, keep an open heart.
To get away from the burden of everyday travel, I went to a place where serenity dwells. I could see that there was gloom ahead, the heavens were dim and heavy. I tread on the journey, keeping in mind that gloom somehow allows you to think deep of one’s circumstance.
When I reached the place, it was worth the while. The wind was flowing sweet and serene. The sound of silence echoes through my heart. There was enchantment all around. A piece of your very own paradise. It showed me how a tiny dot I am beneath the vast space and time, how feeble my wisdom is and how beautiful life is if one lives each moment.
Every second spent was worth the while. The trip back to life was spent longing for the that place. It was difficult. Well, most things never last forever.
I know I’ll be back there someday. Some sweet and silent day in solitude.
Travelers know this. Space can be cold and lonely a lot of times. Teleporting through that streak of light from one place to another they say doesn’t feel a thing. But, many times you feel that chilly, empty space inside you. It’s a longing for something missing. It’s recalling the past that could never be lived again. It is life’s uncertainties of things to come. But, we make the most of it.. for now.
Before, I thought that choosing the river is very much effortless. But, once in a while, one has to paddle to keep moving. I think it’s much better than swimming in the open sea. Yes, maybe it’s too safe. But for now, I’d like to enjoy the scenery.
Nothing compares to things you love!
Cruising down the river.. on a Sunday afternoon..
Such a beautiful world!
How does one have a fulfilling life? Many say there are two ways to do it: to follow the stream or cross the sea.
Figuratively, following the stream is following the easy, comfortable and effortless way of life. It’s less demanding, less stressful. It is indulgence. It’s following one’s heart.
Crossing the sea is creating a mark in the world. Making one’s existence part of history. This one is more difficult, demanding and even painful. One must be determined to do so. Many say this gives more meaning to life while some see it as a waste of effort, to be searching for something that will never be there.
The first one brings with it contentment. The other, progress and continuous search for something not yet achieved.
Which one is the best option? To ride with the current of the cold shallow river.. or swim the dangerous deep blue see?
All beings are space travelers.
Some travel for money. Some travel for indulgence. Some travel for the small pleasures of traveling itself.
Many travel and meet people. Then, they have families. Then, they again only have themselves. As travelers grow old, many of them feel how closer they are to their destination. Many don’t see where they are heading only until they feel the need to search for it. Many look back and realize, that after light years of journey, they do not know where they are heading in the first place.
I don’t clearly know yet where I am heading. Right now, I live for the moment. I think of the present while anticipating the future.
Someday, we will all be in the same place. Our journeys all end at the same point. Right now, we make our history. So that when the time comes to look back on how it has been, many will see what our journey had been.
Then, we are remembered.
Dusting off my dirty feet, I try to sit and look back at my trail. There have been curvy roads, muddy grounds and rocky slopes. All part of the journey. My heels hurt and my bag is heavy. The sun is setting and I guess its time to rest.
Every traveller knows how difficult it is to find shelter just anywhere. To find shelter in an indifferent world. Sometimes, it takes a traveller to understand a traveller. They tend to take care of each other. Just like expatriates of the same country seeing each other in a different country. They tend to care for those whom they feel they are connected to. There is that link that unites us. It is that link that makes a country. It is that link that makes a “people”.
The sun is almost out. The crimson skies are almost pitch black. With the stars appearing in a beautiful array of lights. Beautiful. Truly, this is one of the best times in a journey. For tomorrow, I shall tread again. Towards the destination even I don’t know of.
