Need Love

Need Love? We all need love, but how do we get it? My Angel says: Your heart is so hungry And maybe it’s time, that you fed it. Your head says: Ha! Can I just open my arms and receive? Can I really trust and believe? Or don’t I need to work very hard To be worthy and earn it? Or to study much more And someday learn it? Hey, slow down, be quiet and listen: Your heart may whisper, but it knows: If doubt starts to grow No need to install it or let it Take control, Just press delete – or you can simply edit. If shame creeps in, Bring it out of the shadows. And then just shred it. Letter to a friend: Dear M, That new red sports car Is fast, exciting and maybe Can take you far, But your heart has become a desert Where, except loneliness, Nothing can grow. Even with all your property and wealth, You’ll still never know The treasures inside yourself, Or the warmth of a loving glance And the promise of a friend, Because you leave nothing to chance And will never comprehend The power of helping hands And someone who doesn’t judge But simply listens… And understands. We can always block our ears With the latest bluetooth headphones And get hypnotised By twitter or the game of thrones. Or conceal our eyes With cool Aviators from ray ban And if in doubt, Just consult the weatherman Or an app or the cloud. We paper over the cracks Of isolation and despair And live mechanical lives As if we’re not there. We cover our scars With blankets of pure white snow, And do all we can So that they won’t show And desperately hope That nobody will suspect, or know. But when the hot sun starts to taunt and shine And the icy wind blows It’s so much harder To pretend that we’re still fine. The more we can feel The more we can heal The pain of the past. And if we could grasp That our hearts were made For more, than just to beat, Or to clean blood and produce heat. Because without vulnerability and loving closeness, The future looks bleak. And we will never be healthy Or fully human And always, separate and incomplete. My teachers say; Love is really quite simple and doesn’t need very much. And if we can allow A friendly glance, hug or a gentle touch, Can re-awaken it in each of us, right now - Without much drama. But can I love myself When I’m blocked and still carry some armour? Can I give and receive love In spite of, or even with my trauma? As I turn and look in your caring eyes I think maybe love’s not so far away And begin to relax and slowly realise That maybe today, With your shoulder next to mine, This time It’s here to stay. And as my tears fall like cleansing rain Washing away old beliefs, Doubt and pain, I start to allow the possibility That I may be OK Right now Today Somehow Just as I am. Sangeet Portals July 2022