Writer
Day 9 Inktober – “Throw”
For dance was her expression of freedom. Moving smoothly like a breeze, sometimes flowing vigorously like the waves. Sliding and gliding, swinging and turning. Always energetic, always having fun. Her final dance move ended with her head held high. And every time she threw the ruffles of her skirt in the air in the passion of her dance.
Day 4 Inktober – “Radio”
It’s been a long tiring day! My sketch of a radio for Inktober did not turn out to be good, but listening to good old melodies on the radio sure did help.
“I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.”
– Frank Herbert, Dune.
The mind – a dim, hazy blur.
Restless muscles, not a second of comfort.
Deprived of sleep, a walking soulless spirit of the nights.
Mornings seem dark and groggy.
Every day, a new kind of pain.
Writing in the present state,
A futile attempt.
The mountains creaked in the valley.
Feeling old, sighing!
What if they chose to,
Lay down and rest?
Many of us will end up crying.
Stand tall, oh high and mighty!
For the selfish needs of humanity.
“What’s with those pink heels, everyday?” I ask.
To which she replied,
“Helps me deal with the darkness within.”
Red pillows lay at his feet,
Drenched with the blood of his enemies.
He picked up the controller,
For another round of massacre.
Today, a grey and red spotted moth got trapped in a gap between the glass and the mesh section of my window frame.
I tried to help but there’s no way I can without breaking the glass or cutting open the mesh. I sit down and wonder where the moth must have entered from. Then, I notice a slight opening outside, near the upper edge of the window. I feel relieved because there’s hope for the moth to escape. All it needs to do now is find its way, go back to the opening, and fly away. But sadly, all it seems to do is walk farther away from the opening, or fly and hit itself against the glass pane, and fall down. Sigh!
While I watch this little moth try helplessly, I get reminded of the story of The King and the Spider. I sit by the window and narrate this story to the moth of how the spider never gives up and continues trying until it succeeds. Just to give the moth some company and a few words of inspiration. Slowly, the moth starts moving towards the center of the frame. It gets closer to the edge but again suddenly decides to fly straight towards the glass. Another fall! “Now, why would you do that? Stop flying and go towards the corner where you entered from.”, I say but the little one does not listen to me.
Thankfully, it gets up again and continues walking. It walks multiple times over the same path, starts flying, and falls down. Poor thing continues trying, sometimes it is super close to the opening but it mindlessly walks away or flies only to fall back down again. Now, I am not sure about the moth but I give up. I cannot watch the moth struggle to find a way out of its own trap.
Sometimes, we create these kind of traps for ourselves in our lives due to bad decisions or sometimes unfortunate circumstances make us feel trapped with no way out. What’s important is that the moth did not give up even when the end was near, it did not stop trying. I guess when we stop trying, we stop being alive. So, let’s hold on to dear life.
Violence, hatred, corruption.
It is there. Everywhere.
It is not easy to cleanse the world at once.
So, let’s keep it simple.
One person at a time.
Listen to your inner voice.
Let it be your guide.
To do what is right.
Don’t ever let yourself down.
Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires – Lao Tzu
The open terrace was his room
Lying on the charpoy bed
With hands behind his head
He sang songs looking up at the night sky
Watching the twinkling dance of the stars.
While she complained
Lying on her memory foam mattress
About back pain!
Nuraine Sadaf 