Saturday 22 June 2024

I see no mirrors

Sometimes, yes sometimes we must change, change from our hearts and accept
Accept changes, changes that bring us sentiments, that often echo loudly when we don't call out to them
I for one do not cater to sediments, for sentiments are just sediments that obstruct how I flow through life
Make it shallow and cause the sailing ships to get lodged and stuck 
I believe ships should sail, and they should keep doing so

While we have heard of love, have we really stopped for a moment to understand it
We dam it, and thus damn it, or drop anchors into the bed of the flowing raging river of love
Seeking to achieve some sort of permanence, and all that permeates is water through the hull
Sinking a bond that could have been so much better and easier, but we keep rowing to the same mistakes

I have learnt that the years of wear by my flowing life can carve beautiful memories on the landscapes passed
But none shall be revisited, I carry an essence, a fragment of each moment momentarily 
Dump it all into the open sea, that over the years shall grind to fine sand and deposit on unknown beaches
I do not see those being sifted, or built into castles, or see a lover writing names into it
I flow and meander, create oxbows , ponds, and tributaries until I shall dry out from where I spring.


## Analysis of "I See No Mirrors"

This poem explores the concept of embracing change and impermanence. The speaker rejects the idea of clinging to the past or seeking permanence in relationships. Let's break it down line by line:

**Lines 1-4:** The poem starts with a paradoxical statement - "I see no mirrors." Mirrors reflect the past, and the speaker doesn't want to dwell on it. They acknowledge the need for change, even if it brings difficult emotions ("sentiments that echo loudly").

**Lines 5-8:** The speaker criticizes clinging to "sediments" (metaphor for past experiences and emotions) that slow down their progress. They compare life to a flowing river, and these sentiments are like shallow spots that get ships stuck.

**Lines 9-14:** The poem shifts to the concept of love. The speaker criticizes those who try to control love by "damming" it (seeking permanence) or "dropping anchors" (clinging on). This metaphor suggests love requires constant flow. Love that is dammed or anchored becomes stagnant and ultimately sinks.

**Lines 15-19:** Here, the speaker reflects on the beauty of impermanence. The "years of wear" carve memories on the "landscapes passed," but the speaker doesn't revisit them. They carry an essence of each moment, but don't hold onto specifics. These memories are like sand deposited on unknown beaches - unanalyzed and unclaimed.

**Lines 20-23:** The speaker emphasizes their constant movement. They flow and create new paths ("oxbows," "ponds," "tributaries") but ultimately accept that they will "dry out" from their source. 

**Themes:**

* Embracing change: The poem celebrates the constant flow of life and encourages letting go of the past.
* Impermanence of relationships: The speaker views relationships as impermanent, like flowing water.
* Importance of movement: The poem emphasizes the importance of constant movement and adaptation in life.

**Symbolism:**

* Mirror: Represents the past and the act of dwelling on it. (Though not directly mentioned)
* River: Represents the speaker's life and its constant flow.
* Ship: Represents relationships and the danger of stagnation.

**Overall, "I See No Mirrors" is a powerful poem that advocates for embracing change and impermanence in life and relationships.**



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