Funeral Planning

It took a lifetime to build a coffin and inscribe a language on it. I’m not sure if the future will be able to decipher it. But this is my version of my personal history as I'd like others to see it. Others are free to add their own versions. I will have no control … Continue reading Funeral Planning

Pulled Back

Anna felt like a free person, walking barefoot on the sand. The waves washed her feet and the footprints she left behind in time. Then, suddenly, a high tide of memories would encapsulate her in the existence she left behind. She had lived in terror. She feared that at any moment someone would yell at … Continue reading Pulled Back

Impending

Life is movement, but life is not always progress. We do slip back and catch up. What was unfathomable for me is life coming to a grinding halt, and it’s not death. These gasps, these moments of stillness, were not accounted for in my life goals. A change of geography and culture taught me how … Continue reading Impending

Migration

Is there a de-addiction program for people to detach from a residence, city, country or partner? I will miss the traffic jams, the caution against fraudsters, the extreme climate, the great food, and, not to mention, the easy camaraderie with strangers. A new place offers career growth and wealth opportunities, but the cold climes will … Continue reading Migration

Writing

I’m scared. I’m also in awe of myself, though it sounds immodest. Where do these words come from? They scar the screen like lava flowing out of a volcano. They wash all that has been inscribed for ages, like a tsunami from the depths of the ocean. They burn down all scripts and uproot the … Continue reading Writing

Seeds of change

Where did the seed come from? What are the pains and joys that it inherits, nurtures and transfers? The future gathers in vine, bush, and tree: Persimmon, walnut, loquat, fig, and grape, oblivious to its heritage. It gathers experience and impressions and takes them as the ultimate truth. Genes are bearers of history that determine … Continue reading Seeds of change

Nocturnal Horror

My mother tells me I narrowly escaped death during birth. The hospital's power supply inexplicably switched off, and the doctors panicked. When the lights came on, they had a baby in their hands, blinking to adjust to the bright theatre lights. They declared me a miracle. But it did nothing to prevent future woes. I … Continue reading Nocturnal Horror

Two sides of a Coin

“Man cannot replicate or compete with nature”. “Mankind often overpowers nature, for both good and bad.” “I don’t see any good in what you say”. Veronica smiled. She could never win over her sister Valerie with logic. Yet, they relied on each other for emotional support. “Val, look at it this way. I never learnt … Continue reading Two sides of a Coin

Acorn that I am

Aren’t you surprised to find me shivering in the backyard, when cherry blossoms adorn the season outside? My breath is icy when windows open to welcome fresh air, and kitchens smell of seasonal delicacies. As a seed, I was shot out the back end of a blue jay when, heedless, she flew over the meadow. … Continue reading Acorn that I am

Whose life is a picnic?

The birds haven’t come yet, and we stand disconnected from the world. We stand weighed down by the burden of a bird utility, and I’m sure my knees will start bleeding soon. You are no Atlas, so give up the idea of shrugging. It’s an incredible life out here, uninterrupted by the vagaries of the … Continue reading Whose life is a picnic?