Who Needs Love

Who needs Love? If we all need love, how do we get it? My Angel strokes my cheek and says Your abandoned heart, so hungry, Maybe it’s time that you fed it. My head looks up and says: Don’t be so naive, Wake up and forget it, What, just open my arms and receive? Who can I trust Who am I supposed to believe? Don’t I need to work very hard To be worthy and earn it? Or to study much more And someday learn it? This all sounds like some kind of Lazy egoism. Hey, you, Slow down, be quiet and listen: Your heart may whisper, but it knows: If doubt reappears Or starts to grow, No need to install it, or let it Take control, Just press delete – or you can simply edit. If guilt creeps in, Bring it out of the shadows. And then just shred it. We paper over the cracks Of isolation and despair And live virtual lives Cos we believe there’s no one there. Covering our shame With designer clothes Or pure white snow, Sad warriors playing the game Of don’t ask, talk or show. Politeness demands: A “how are you” Though we both understand You really don’t want to know. And so to survive, We have nowhere to go Except to become foggy and numb. But when the cold wind blows And the heat of the sun Melts night into day, It’s so much harder To avoid the decay And a house full of ghosts Who all think they have Something important to say. I feel you slipping away As you block your ears Most of the day With the coolest bluetooth headphones And often seem hypnotised By twitter or the game of thrones. With Aviators from RayBan, hide your eyes Otherwise never go out, And anyway, all that you need, Is in amazon or the cloud. That new shiny porsch 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 houses and wealth, You’ll never find contentment or 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 a helping hand From someone who doesn’t judge But simply listens… And understands. The only love that feels safe And nourishing to me Is when I feel accepted As I am - unconditionally, Without the cages Of religious dogmas or morality. 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, It can re-awaken in each of us, right now - Without much drama. But can I really love myself Blocked and with so much armour? Can I give and receive love With my failures, wounds and trauma? As I turn and look in your caring eyes I think wow, maybe love’s not so far away. And start to remember And feel things that I again recognise, Like deep longing and sadness, sweet and tender. And from a place deep inside A warmth starts to rise As a thought comes That maybe today, With your shoulder next to mine, This inner peace, is here to stay - This time. And as my tears fall like cleansing rain Washing away the dirt of old fears, Doubt and pain, From a place deep inside I am able to finally decide To stay, Even though Sometimes I may again forget, close and hide, I know I will not go away. And a warmth starts to rise As a thought comes From a place deep inside That maybe I am really ok, Just as I am. Right now Yes, today. Sangeet Portals ©2023