come, stay and let's talk. it's a good day to be alive
like a flock of birds solemnly flying in line,
time ebbs and webs, leaving traces of its trail
paradoxically, faster we run, slower world moves.
yet, regardless, to fill this one minute,
with everything I’ve got:
the sweat. the tears. the cries. the smiles.
Leaving no excuses nor regret.
I have answered to my call the best I could.
1.10.2023
this exhaustion, is like an amorphous glass
looking through it, the world reveals itself
within the reach of my palm’s grasp
but my arm wouldn’t stretch out regardless
if the light goes out, it will be a dark night.
as silence fills in the air
and stars, indifferently shines,
I lay down, wondering what the future holds.
1.9.2023
“to withstand things that I can’t”
may be a modern underrated life element
so much power we yield when we want
stop and wonder if all’s gone in a moment
what strength we have left
to withstand all that’s f’d
perhaps we run as fast as we can on bubbles
one day we’ll find gone are all troubles
who knows what future brings
but withstanding pain does sting
to be honest, I am not sure how it happened.
it is as though it was meant to be.
I sat, stared, and let what may be heard, heard
yet, conversations flowed.
felt, deeper feelings of warm glow
thanked, all those who shared a moment with me.
perhaps, if we run each moment with all we have,
we will at least be able to stand on this land
and know that we have done our best
and leave the rest for the rest.
1.7.2023
a little bumbleness goes a long way
humbleness may not be a sign of weakness
but a promise to oneself to be stronger soon
it’s the courage that will withstand shame
and with a clear mind, walk with dignity
and ensures a brighter future for future self.
do not let if not take it for granted.
one day it may pay off.
1.6.2023
a far way friend talked to me on a screen
a long prepared project presented to a mentor
a scholar presented an eye opening talk
a talk with a genius in a restroom stall
a renewed talk made me a new friend
colleagues who weathered a long hour work
house chores conquered with a roommate
a talk on a bus with an old man who blesses
a bystander who rung the bell for you
a cashier, who’s bitter about your Covid mask
a European woman in a headscarf in a bus
two Hispanic workers asking for a hospital
friends’ text messages, recommending novels
we march on, as far as we could go.
there is a few people who have faith in me.
They believed my words,
generously offered their time,
and graciously shared their love.
Being with them gave me enough courage
I took off my blinders,
started to see the world as it is,
and continued extending their love to others.
even as the vast distance remains between us
even as we no longer see or hear each other
I feel their warmth glow in my heart
living as vividly as when we were together.
I am grateful for their generosity
and I wish them well.
1.4.2023
it’s like building a castle
but it could be a house of cards
if you are not careful
to focus all your attention
meeting each person as who they are
instead of what you think they should be
greeting them with a calm smile
letting them go with a serene gratitude
slowly, a page of life is written, as the sun sets
it takes all of your energy,
all of your attention.
but when you feel its presence
you may wonder of profoundness:
a work called life.
1.3.2023
prompt: finding a deeper meaning to running than simply running
*there was nothing but the road at the plan until the edge of the horizon. A man in his 20s is running on that road. A few runners in jerseys, shorts, and a running band around their sweat-soaked hair were ahead of him. The rest had already gone far ahead.
“All that the man possessed were his camera and a water bottle. The thing that he thought would be the must-have in this epic journey turned out to be the ones that were weighing him down. He felt tempted to throw them away by the dead tree next to the running path, but he decided against it. He was willing to carry the burden in the present for a better-rewarded future.
None of the runners spoke to him. They were also in a miserable state. A few decided to walk instead. The man could not bring himself to walk. Even though no one was looking at him, he wanted to finish this race, running.
Under the blazing sun, he could feel the moisture rapidly drying up from his soft body. He felt threads of muscles under his chin strained. His throat was burning, and his lungs were drying quickly. He felt soreness in his thighs and his shoulders. His feet and calves had gone numb a while ago, and he had been mechanically moving them one after another. The road seemed to not end, regardless of how far he ran.
He emptied the last sliver of water into his mouth. He started to see a village with a bit of pasture around it. He let his head fall after drinking the last bit of the water. Just staring at his feet, he focused on moving them one after another. What was the purpose of this? It would be far too easier to walk. If comfort is what the body craves, what does it mean to go against it and keep running? Is there something more than just living?
Then he heard a shout: Yala, Yala! A middle-aged man with a hearty lump of belly watering his garden was shouting at him. Although he did not understand what he was shouting, he knew what the man was saying: “don’t give up! Keep your head up and keep running!”
Something in him surged over to his legs and his arms. Recklessly, yet courageously, the man started to run. He ran as hard as he could. The world began to brighten. Everything seemed to be turning white.
Then there was an arch of the gate. As he walked through it, he entered an empty farmhouse garden where a few other men were panting and drinking water. He had made it. It was the finish line. He let his body fall to the ground and rested there, panting. It was worth a while. It was a worthwhile run. And he was grateful for having made it all the way, running.”
after weathering a few setbacks,
another one does not feel much of anything.
staring at it squarely,
I acknowledged its weight
without flinching or turning away.
deep down through layers of scars,
there is a confidence:
as long as there is another day of the sun
a fistful of air to breath
and the spirit in me,
there is a chance.
chance to make it all worthwhile.
1.2.2023
Ralph with Coffee 
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