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Friday 22 August 2014

The Borders of Peril


You've not known pain unless you've felt
Involuntarily spasms pass through your back bone,
Shaking you right to the core.

You have not known pain unless you've lost a limb or two,
And ached in fire of sheer loss.

You have not known pain unless you've tossed around night after night,
Not sleeping a wink, wondering 

If a thought about you have passed someone's mind.

You have not known pain unless you have been cornered by men,
Worse than stray dogs, helpless and hopeless in the face of fate.

You have not known pain, unless you've experience something
As beautiful as childbirth,
And not as worse as the catastrophe of losing one.

You have not known pain unless you've basked in the relief of an escape,
Whether it comes from running away, or a stinging blade.

You have not known pain unless you have been forced to see,
Your children going to bed
On an empty stomach, night after night.

Meaningless, your pain is not, however may it come.
Don't let me define your pain for you.

Don't let anyone set the borders for your peril. 
You've known it all as it struck you from behind
Or ripped at you head first, and beaten you raw.

-Momina.

7 comments:

  1. You've not known pain unless you've lost someone. And that's the worst kind of pain.

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  2. I have known pain.. and it feels the same way as written. Surprisingly, it always feels like this and a little more...

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  3. Powerful powerful words ... we all want to be devoid of pain, but alas ...

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  4. 'Don't let anyone set the borders for your peril.
    You've known it all as it struck you from behind
    Or ripped at you head first, and beaten you raw.'
    Beautiful.

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  5. Makes us look like such ungrateful beings when we complain about the little things in life when there are so many people suffering from the unbearable. Very well written!

    P.S. Something for you: http://imaginativespiral.blogspot.in/2014/08/happy-birthday.html

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  6. I must say, the line that stood out most for me was:
    "Don't let anyone set the borders for your peril."

    For indeed, while joys might be shared, suffering and torment is downright personal. Well written (y)

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  7. Wow!!! Those are expressive words! Splendidly touching!

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