Love comes in shades of gray
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We know the classical classification of Love: Eros, Philia, Storge, Ludus, Pragma, Mania, Philautia, and Agape. Love is not only a no one-way street, but is an extremely narrow lane, as Kabeer said: Prem gali ati sankari, na duja isme samaye. Love is worship, love is God. Fine, but today’s love is rarely pure and often not so sure. This piece looks at love differently-- as of shades of gray.
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A season not sure,
Love comes in odd shades of gray
That seem far from pure.
Proclaims the first shade,
‘You’re mine’— my love’s sole foreplay--
A shade soon does fade
And beneath this shade
A deep fear of loss does stay,
Love losing some grade.
Next, shade of desire--
Made of the mores of today--
Litmus test of fire.
With keen sense of life
That fuels poetic play,
This love ends in strife.
Comes ‘dependency’
Wearing the style of the day—
‘I need you, you me’.
Comes then sacrifice,
Love looking mature? No way,
It melts in a trice.
And love nigh aware,
Somewhat rare and fair of play--
At best mutual care.
Last’s love liberate,
One-sided and no less gray,
Though of highest state.
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Musings | 20.05.2026 | awareness, desire, dependency, gray, love, season, Tercet
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