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Paths

—Inspired by “Is Mod Se Jaate Hain” (see below)
by Gulzar from the film: Aandhi, 1975

Sheer multitudes of paths diverge from here—
Some are jet setters, some meander slowly—
Which one among these paths should I draw near?

Promising fame and fortune, some paths steer
Me towards glass houses and castles boldly.
Sheer multitudes of paths diverge from here.

Offering quiet contentment, some appear
To sway me towards modest dwellings mostly.
Which one among these paths should I draw near?

Like a pulsating storm, a path now veers.
Another ambles down these steps morosely.
Sheer multitudes of paths diverge from here.

One comes from far, then turns away in fear;
One neither stops nor moves, and feels so lonely.
Which one among these paths should I draw near?

Fine silken paths abound, but one out there
Is ours, a path we’ll walk together closely.
Sheer multitudes of paths diverge from here,
And one that leads to you that I’ll draw near.

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Paddy Raghunathan is an IT Project Manager. His poems have appeared in Time Of Singing, A Journal For Christian Poetry, and in Ohio Poetry Association’s annual and ekphrastic anthologies. A translation of his from the Hindi language is featured in May 2023’s Creativity Webzine. In 2020, one of his sonnets appeared in the Cuyahoga County Library’s April Poetry Month collection online. In 2022, he was also a judge in Time Of Singing’s Ekphrastic Poetry Contest.

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12 Responses

  1. Paul A. Freeman

    I enjoyed both the poem (with its message of taking the right path) and the film clip, Paddy.

    Thanks for posting them.

    Reply
  3. Roy Eugene Peterson

    I sense the power of love from the last line that leads us on the path we were meant to find and follow regardless of whether it leads to riches and fame, or to more modest means.

    Reply
  5. Brian A. Yapko

    I really enjoyed this villanelle, Paddy, with its many choices of pathways. That question of which path out of multitudes is the right one is a perfect subject for anxious trepidation and, therefore, beautifully suited to the ruminating repetends of the villanelle form. As for the subject, one might have thought that Robert Frost had all there was to say regarding paths not taken, but your poem is utterly original as well as insightful.

    I also enjoyed the video of music from Aandhi. I don’t know if you ever read my “In Praise of Bollywood” poem from last year, but I have a deep-rooted love for Indian films which I find to have an innocence, a romantic sense and a moral clarity which has been lost in Hollywood. During these times of great sorrow and anxiety, your poem and its inspiration have both brought a smile to my face.

    Reply
    • Paddy Raghunathan

      Thank you Brian! The original poet, Gulzar, is the inspiration.

      Best regards,

      Paddy

      Reply
  6. Malathy Sreenivasan

    This Bollywood song has a philosophy underneath its tune. We all take a path in life … unable to judge if it is the right path for us. The song concludes on a note of beautiful simpler thinking.
    The translation is apt and goes hand in hand with the lyrics.
    A good job.

    Reply
  7. Margaret Coats

    As Brian has said above, the villanelle is a good form to use when speaking of a choice to be made. Here one of your refrains asks a question about the one path to choose; it contrasts with the multitude of paths described in the other refrain. The villanelle also works well when there is a choice between just two things, as in “Roses” by L. S. Bevington, which I consider one of the very best villanelles. Your technique for concluding here is, like Bevington’s, excellent because it introduces something new at the end. The choice is not just finding one path among many, but finding one that suits two lovers. That’s an extra difficulty apparent only when you say “is ours” in the last line of the poem that is not a refrain. The highly important line then resolves to “walk together closely,” and the difficulty is solved. Good work!

    Reply
    • Paddy Raghunathan

      Margaret,

      Thank you for your detailed analysis of my villanelle.

      Coming from someone like you makes me feel very good.

      Best regards,

      Paddy

      Reply
  8. Rohini

    I loved this, Paddy! A delightful villanelle and so well matched to the song, of course I enjoyed the movie clip too. Thank you for pushing the boundaries.

    Reply

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