To pretend or not to pretend
I'm currently reading 'Like the Flowing River' by Paulo Coelho.
In one of the chapters, Meeting in the Dentsu Gallery, I came across this amazing poem by Mitsuo Aida(1924-91), a poet and calligrapher.
In one of the chapters, Meeting in the Dentsu Gallery, I came across this amazing poem by Mitsuo Aida(1924-91), a poet and calligrapher.
Because it has lived its life intensely
the parched grass still attracts the gaze of passers-by.
The flowers merely flowers,
and they do this as well as they can.
The white lilly, blooming unseen in the valley,
does not need to explain itself to anyone.
It lives merely for beauty.
Men, however, cannot accept that 'merely'.
If tomatoes wanted to be melons,
they would look completely ridiculous.
I am always amazed
that so many people are concerned
with wanting to be what they are not;
what's the point of making yourself look ridiculous?
You don't always have to pretend to be strong,
there's no need to prove all the time that everything is going well,
you shouldn't be concerned about what other people are thinking.
cry if you need to,
it's good to cry out all your tears
(because only then you will be able to smile again)
the parched grass still attracts the gaze of passers-by.
The flowers merely flowers,
and they do this as well as they can.
The white lilly, blooming unseen in the valley,
does not need to explain itself to anyone.
It lives merely for beauty.
Men, however, cannot accept that 'merely'.
If tomatoes wanted to be melons,
they would look completely ridiculous.
I am always amazed
that so many people are concerned
with wanting to be what they are not;
what's the point of making yourself look ridiculous?
You don't always have to pretend to be strong,
there's no need to prove all the time that everything is going well,
you shouldn't be concerned about what other people are thinking.
cry if you need to,
it's good to cry out all your tears
(because only then you will be able to smile again)
Take some time, think... this poem is beautiful when we visualize it and I love it, but what made me think was the line 'You don't always have to pretend to be strong'.
In today's era I believe one HAS to pretend to be strong (specially when he/she is not), no matter what life throws up on them. Not for others, but for themselves.
I dunt know, but I believe being pretentious when it comes to issues ('problems' sound harsh) revolving around life, can be helpful... as time heals and when we look back, there is sense of happiness and pride in knowing that we stood strong even during the most difficult times.
PS: When I say pretend, I don't mean faking up and taking credit for things one doesn't do. Nevertheless, this is one of the very few poems that makes me happy when I read it :)
In today's era I believe one HAS to pretend to be strong (specially when he/she is not), no matter what life throws up on them. Not for others, but for themselves.
I dunt know, but I believe being pretentious when it comes to issues ('problems' sound harsh) revolving around life, can be helpful... as time heals and when we look back, there is sense of happiness and pride in knowing that we stood strong even during the most difficult times.
PS: When I say pretend, I don't mean faking up and taking credit for things one doesn't do. Nevertheless, this is one of the very few poems that makes me happy when I read it :)
Those are very well written lines and does makes sense!!
ReplyDeletenice poem shwetz..
ReplyDeleteI read it twice nd it makes a lot of sense.
yes, we need to let go once in a while and be ourselves...however hard it is..
Hey that's really nice poem..
ReplyDelete"You don't always have to pretend to be strong,
there's no need to prove all the time that everything is going well"
Actually there are two meaning and both are correct in their own ways. one which you have described that we have to be strong in any situation.
The other view is that let's accept the fact and go ahead. Because most people pretend that they are very strong and try to prove their own self everytime. They are kind of showers that everything is in their possible limits which is not true. So don't try to prove something that everything is going around them is well if you are aware about it. But at one end don't creep also.
@ Yogesh,
ReplyDeleteYep they surely do! :)
@ Swathy,
ReplyDeleteYep sometimes it becomes a compulsion, but you cant always be.. people who do cannot pretend tend to be victims to depression.
Pretend to be strong, eventually one will turn into one. :)
@ dishantparikh
ReplyDeleteProbably you are right. Guess the reader can interpret it according their views and experience.
Beautiful song na?
Those are some awesome lines! I stil believe u really dont have to pretend to be strong, especially in todays times...i think a little vulnerebility is the gateway for emotions..
ReplyDelete