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Ephemeral
Our lives are like a summer’s day
So swift, so swift, it flies away.
A butterfly that’s newly born
The brief blush of an early dawn.
That’s all it is and all ‘twill be
A mere blink in eternity.
And yet we try so hard to leave
An imprint by a summer’s eve.
A mark that says to someone dear
‘Look and note, I once was here.’
But seasons come and seasons go
The children’s children will not know
That once upon a time ‘twas I
Who left a shore, who bid goodbye.
Who travelled miles and miles away
And hoped that they would someday say
Their thanks when up towards the skies
They turn their praying hands and eyes.
And in their turn, they understand
That they must, in these shifting sands,
A deeper footprint try to leave
Before their day becomes an eve.
And then the age-old question comes
For whom and why should this be done?
.
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Rohini Sunderam is author of Corpoetry – Desert Flower – Five Lives One Day in Bahrain published by Ex-L-Ence Publishing. She is a Canadian of Indian origin, and a semi-retired advertising copywriter. Find out more about her on her blog or on Amazon.
This lovely set of quatrains takes the traditional “Memento mori” theme of Western poetry and adds to it a sprinkling of hope — we all die, but we may be remembered, either for our achievements or in the minds of our immediate friends and relatives.
Living on in one’s achievements or reputation is a major motive for many of the heroic characters of ancient poetry (“klewos ndeghwitom” or “deathless fame” is one of the earliest reconstructed Proto-Indo-European phrases). But not everyone can be a heroic figure and have that. This is why salvational religion that promises individual immortality to those accept it has a built-in appeal.
Thank you for your insights. There was so much of all this buzzing around in my head when I wrote this – the need for it on the one hand and the futility of it on the other.
Wow! Wow! Wow! You Never fail to amaze at the deep thought, but put simply… Lovely.
Ephemeral, indeed. What a fantastic couple of lines ‘A deeper footprint try to leave / Before their day becomes an eve’ are. A deceptively simple, profound piece of poetry.
And what a great picture from Evan.
Thanks for the read, Rohini.
The visual accompaniments to our words are always so well-thought out and sourced. I admire Evan’s/ SCP’s ability to come up with something so evocative and reflective of the poems every single time. Thanks Evan! And thank you, Paul for reading and commenting on the poem
Lovely contemplative poem; I enjoy the nature imagery and the simple yet profound train of thought. Great job!
Another very beautiful poem, Rohini. Such a profound thought put across so beautifully. Loved it.
Rohini it’s beautiful . Thank you. Its amazing. So deep and thought provoking.
Profound and poignant! Loved reading.
Brilliant work of art Rohini – I understand you’ve followed a quatrain structure, and the last paragraph – the image of shifting sands with the turn combined with a reflective question – powerful – Keep up the great work always.
Thank you, Colin. I am glad you liked it
Rohini, this was a beautiful poem inspired with soulful feelings related to eternal values and remembrances, “especially the deeper footprint” that time may come to hide, but which represented a step in the right direction of hope and salvation. This had to come from a warm and caring heart!
Thanks so much for that comment! It means a lot from a poet like you.
It’s a breath of relief to reach the conclusion which is so subtly counter-cultural. This is the age of “Me, me, me. I self-define. I self-identify. I …pride this and pride that and selfies and me, me, me.
But you’ve concluded on a most important point. Not merely, “the why,” but the, “for whom.” As a Christian, for me, the ultimate “Whom” would be capitalized; however, we are made for relationship, so “for whom” is perfectly strong as well. “No [one] is an island.”
It reminds me of a very old song, “Who Will Answer?” I think it’s called. The subtle point of which is that we’re not seeking a “what,” we’re all seeking a “who,” it seems.
You have made a really deep interpretation and I guess perhaps somewhere in my subconscious those thoughts may well exist. But, mostly I wonder about our reasons for wanting to leave a legacy and for whom. Whether this is a deeper cry of the soul, is a whole new way of looking at it. And I thank you for that.
This is such a beautiful poem Rohini. It seems to skip along so beautifully , it really is a joy to read and then we are left with a profound question.
thank you.
Thank you! I am pleased that you enjoyed it.
This is a well-written and touching poem, Rohini. Mr. Salemi has put forth a beautiful analysis of it and I agree with him in every aspect. I think the answer to your concluding question is: anyone who finds inspiration from you and you work (be it your deeds or poetical works) and wish to be like you. Thank you for this beautiful poem!
I thank you, Shamik Banerjji for your wonderful response.
And thanks to everyone who’s stopped by to read and comment.
Rohini, this is exquisite – truly beautiful. I love the sibilance, the consonance, the assonance… all those poetic devices you’ve employed to make this fine poem sing… but, most of all, I adore the message. This smile of a poem has cheered my day. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your feedback. And of course your comment has made my day!
A very poignant and meditative work that makes good use of nature metaphors throughout.
Stylistically it’s a good imitation of very early romantic works. I detect a touch of Wordsworth.
The poem is impressive first because of its smooth flow. The rhythm carries the reader very quickly through generations, as the speaker imagines her children’s children dealing with her very question of leaving an impression. While she feels this may be well futile, we nonetheless see it as a human desire that cannot be denied. Love and hope are so natural to us that new generations will double down and try to leave a deeper mark on shifting sands merely because they see most of their predecessors have failed, or succeeded only faintly. Up to the final line, the flow is logical as well as a rhythmical. Then the speaker recalls her earlier hope to impress someone dear, and questions who this will be for the grandchildren. The new question, of course, is really an old one brought up again because love and hope and the desire to leave a lasting legacy are perennial. You say this, Rohini, in an indirect and thoughtful manner that makes your reflective poem all the more effective.
Thank you so much Margaret and everyone who has commented on this poem. It’s always an education in craft improvement to read all your insights. And, of courses, so encouraging.