tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3642179350946536452024-02-19T05:56:25.599-05:00Exit StrategyAlways have an exit strategy. Or at least lament the lack of one.Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-58013167866036145632023-01-15T20:08:00.004-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.148-05:00Sameya<p>Today I craved expression</p><p>Expression of connection, maybe</p><p>From the moment I woke to the sound of my daughter's voice</p><p>The thought of hugging her pulled me out of bed and down the stairs</p><p>Sitting together on the couch</p><p>Her toes were cold so I warmed them</p><p>She didn't acknowledge</p><p>nor did she protest</p><p>She just did her thing, content, I assume, with my presence.</p><p>It is not her role</p><p>To provide me with opportunities for expression </p><p>Or connection</p><p>Or comfort</p><p>Though she does, does</p><p>And does.</p><p>I am worthy of love, connection, comfort</p><p>And yet, undeserving of her.</p><p><br /></p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-41099836259717746942023-01-06T15:47:00.004-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.100-05:00No Trespassing<span style="font-family: inherit;">I walked in the woods today. The world around me made little noise. There was one bird chirping in the distance. I walked along a stream that flowed silently, until it trickled, and sometimes strong enough to compel me to stop, watch and listen. <br /><br />Mostly, I couldn’t escape the sound of my own two feet, compressing the snow underneath. I felt like an imposition on my environment. Every step a clumsy statement of presence interfering with the silence and serenity of the woods. </span><div><br /></div><div>It surprised me that I felt unwelcome. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe it was the sign that said <span style="font-family: inherit;"> “No Trespassing”.</span></div>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-18943193103178443542022-12-29T21:32:00.000-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.056-05:00Borders and boundaries<p>Borders and boundaries</p><p>They're easy to conceptualize</p><p>and talk about</p><p>to one's self</p><p>"This is the line that I expect people to not cross"</p><p>Oh, I don't tell them</p><p>They'd be more likely to encounter a sudden cognitive evolution into telepathy</p><p>than to have me tell them where to find that line and point out when they've crossed it.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-88929592082545558602021-12-04T12:38:00.003-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.233-05:00Unspoken languages<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I stand out
on the deck, looking over the lake. Surrounded by evergreens, the clear sky and
the sun in my face. It is cold. A cleansing, refreshing morning. And
though I can hear gusts of wind, I am mostly sheltered from its chilling movement.
I hear the wind first move the branches above me, not sure of which direction
it takes until I see ripples appear in the water ahead of me. Like a delicate
troupe of dancers moving in distinct directions across the surface of the lake.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The small
waves dissipate as the wind lifts itself back up into the sky, or die upon the
surface, slowed down by the curled-up lips of the lake. And so, I watch,
anticipating the next gust of dancers to enter stage from the treetops, and
pull on the water’s surface once again. The same as I would while scanning the
night sky for shooting star or searching the ocean in hopes of catching a whale
as it begins to breach. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A leaf frees
itself from a branch. A long-awaited moment finally realized. The leaf flitters
as it descends to the ground, glancing my way in the hopes I will pause and marvel at its
pirouettes and grace. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so, I pause,
and I marvel. At the leaf, the shooting star, the wind dancing on the water. Always
wondering what they are trying to say and what unspoken wonders they long to
reveal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The wind
has moved on, no longer dancing on the surface of the water. It cannot stay
here forever. Nor can I. But for now, I stand out on the deck, looking over the
lake. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-23314707779809491422021-05-19T20:39:00.001-04:002024-02-11T11:55:48.063-05:00Liars and Thieves<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you trust a wandering mind?<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">One that sits behind a shield of glass<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whose eyes narrow from sunlight barely scattered from trees that are only just budding</span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whose breath recycles the inside air, spores and dust particles</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-9fea573d-7fff-53fd-eaa7-cafa932b458a"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you trust a wandering body?<br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One that lies on a bed of grass<br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whose attention is reeled by pretty girls walking fast with thoughts we should be hiding<br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whose overloaded senses eclipse words and participles</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-9fea573d-7fff-53fd-eaa7-cafa932b458a"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Poets, the liars and thieves of the human condition<br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From afar<br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From within<br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And every word in between</span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-9fea573d-7fff-53fd-eaa7-cafa932b458a"><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-17826279572700307182021-05-17T21:03:00.001-04:002024-02-11T11:55:48.048-05:00Breeze<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">A breeze sneaks through the open window. She curls and circles into the room and across my skin. Gentle and silent, she attempts to ease past without waking me. I feel the coolness of her touch despite her quiet, slow breath. I respond with a curl at the corner of my mouth and a quiet, slow breath of my own. She soothes and caresses me until I return to sleep.</span></p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-90573479891726522202021-04-29T20:59:00.002-04:002024-02-11T11:55:48.238-05:00Island of choices<p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Left</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Left</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ab922900-7fff-9604-a111-51949d0b1320"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Left</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Left</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We want to go right</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The left is more common</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The right tastes of promise</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The left smells of failure</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The game we play</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At our flighty fingertips</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To find</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To keep</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To lose</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And play again</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not play at all</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But with a cat</span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-52164345247329699712021-04-11T23:49:00.002-04:002024-02-11T11:55:48.131-05:00The long winter <p>Sometimes I can feel sadness</p><p>Just below the surface</p><p>Held down</p><p>So it is no more than a hint of sorrow</p><p>A touch of tear</p><p>Like a wisp of spring before the buds break </p><p>Before the showers wash away the cold, tense winter</p><p>I swallow hard another day</p><p>To keep cold and calm </p><p>While yearning to bathe in the rain</p><p>To let the storm pass through </p><p>So I can once again feel the sun on my face </p><p>Until then</p><p>The long winter</p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-70055846224625175132021-03-28T16:37:00.005-04:002024-02-11T11:55:48.178-05:00Thirst<p><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A forest makes quite a fuss under the rain. The leaves complain loudly as the drops weigh down their dance with a gentle breeze. They will come around. The forest floor stirs. Creatures that burrowed and slumbered, now roused and raised above ground, wiping free the dark and dirt, and crane their necks to witness the commotion until they realize the tightness of their corps, the dryness of their throats. They stretch out with thirst and verve.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5d005b58-7fff-ca2c-524d-f7a10cb151c6"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A city street thinks little of the commotion. It brushes the drops off its shoulder, sending them rushing to its underbellies, unseen but where puddles form, whose presence becomes known to passersby, who jump across, or unaware and unwittingly step in, until the sun pulls the drops back up into the sky.</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The occasional biped will abandon their umbrella to reach up to the sky and feel the clouds heart beat on their faces, while the others pull their collars tight and seek shelter, despite their thirst, and longing for verve.</span></span></span>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-55186372281373474062021-03-12T15:55:00.003-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.139-05:00One second from now<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3fb9c42c-7fff-6b8a-94cc-088da96d9368"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What happens one second from now? Not just anything. There is a limit to the number of things that can happen one second from now. Or what changes we can effect. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet, there are likely more possibilities than we can imagine. If we take but one action, one second from now, the possibilities ahead begin to cascade.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What could happen more than two seconds from now? I’m not sure I even want to think that far ahead. Or if I can think that far ahead.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps the best we can do, the best that the human imagination has to offer, is to imagine the possibilities that one second from now can bring, and do something.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We can deal with the rest later. </span></span></p></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-71954f02-7fff-f987-4550-4d5fed7b78a3"><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-82097314933271359282021-03-09T12:04:00.000-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.208-05:00Who are you <div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who are you<br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coming here to peruse these thoughts<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inferring and reading between the lines<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nodding knowingly<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the who, and the what<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the sadness and despair<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which could just have easily been ironic <br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And chiding</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who are you <br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To enjoy the cadence and flow<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or cringe at the lack thereof<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rolling your eyes<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or dabbing them dry<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Filled with visions and empathy<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As if I have any idea what I am talking about<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or feeling</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who are you<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the thinker<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The writer<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The audience<br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the actor</span></span></div>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-45052469917396724792021-03-09T10:25:00.003-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.112-05:00All the things you don't know<p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you let go of the past? All of it. The choices you made and the ones you did not. The stumbles and falls, the climbs and the cruises. The slides into things you didn’t see coming and places you didn’t know you were there. The imaginings of different paths. Of purposeful direction. Of running with powerful and tireless legs. Of pushing the brush and density aside. As if you knew where you would end up. That the world would abide. But you don’t know, do you? You could fill the universe with all the things you don’t know.</span></span></p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-25515761035328541322021-03-06T20:28:00.005-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.072-05:00Charcoal<p>The sun had already set</p><p>But it’s light lingered</p><p>The sky clear and clean like a canvas</p><p>Trees provide perspective</p><p>Between me and the infinite</p><p>No longer holding detail, texture</p><p>Now but shadows against the backdrop of a sleepy world</p><p>Like charcoal on paper, branches hold shape and pull forth imagination </p><p>Simple lines of black as the sky descends slowly to join them</p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-72866423636093069402021-02-25T18:37:00.002-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.198-05:00Outmatched<p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-dc885996-7fff-890a-ecd8-5c7322a2e1de" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A feeling came over me </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When my meds settled in</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When I realized that it felt tight my entire life </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">And my chest did not feel so tight anymore</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">When my shoulders dropped and I breathed more deeply</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A welcome respite </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A calmness long overdue</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That made it just that much easier to deal with any given thing</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Until the weight started to build</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And my knees begs to buckle</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The meds, they are outmatched </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I am overcome </span></span></p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-37808624022666972272021-02-24T18:01:00.000-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.090-05:00Waiting<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There were times that I climbed onto a packed bus. So full that the bus driver kept driving past every stop, leaving rejected passengers with faces of incredulity and hand gestures of all sorts. Those kinds of rides where you had to keep your bag on the floor between your feet. Awkwardly reaching for something to hold onto and keep your balance. They felt like forever as the lower back and foot arches ached.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5ed07e6e-7fff-63c1-3faf-0a3cb1da03b6"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There were times where I sat in a packed airplane. With my knees pressed against the back of the seat in front of me. Constantly shifting my weight from one buttock to the other, trying to encourage blood flow to my feet. These times were far worse than the bus rides. Hours and hours of boredom and discomfort with an occasional, and sometimes pretend trip to the bathroom to stretch the legs, and maybe stand around the galley until the flight attendant needed the space. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5ed07e6e-7fff-63c1-3faf-0a3cb1da03b6"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now I have no need to climb onto a bus, nor an airplane. I’m not in a cramped space, physically standing, or sitting still. And yet, I feel cramped, and sore. With no confidence about when we will arrive, or what our destination even looks like. So I try to find ways, despite the cramps, and the soreness, to pass the time. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5ed07e6e-7fff-63c1-3faf-0a3cb1da03b6"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But really, it is all just a form of waiting.</span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-5ed07e6e-7fff-63c1-3faf-0a3cb1da03b6"><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-46316297466690416882021-02-21T17:29:00.005-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.120-05:00When a book ends in the middle<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are
times</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When reading
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That I dread nearing the end<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That my
relationship with the main character is coming to a close<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And we will
go about our lives separately<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No longer
inviting me to witness the events in their lives<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Into their thoughts
and fears and joys and laughter<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is inevitable
in every book<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we approach the point finale.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are
times<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When living<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That a story
ends without warning<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or maybe
there were warnings<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But I wasn’t
paying attention<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Assuming
I had a say<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or any control <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thinking maybe
I wasn’t even halfway through<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anticipating
that the climax was still to come<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That the
characters would continue to develop and intertwine<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But it wasn’t<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And they
don’t<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An ending
without punctuation<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What can one
do when a book ends in the middle<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But fill empty
pages <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And bind
something new</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-68884067631293018052021-02-20T08:00:00.001-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.167-05:00Snowfall<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The silence of a snowfall</span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-38e1b1ad-7fff-327b-7b30-8173f8c5bd88"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A gentle teasing of the eyes</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Leaving the mind to wander freely</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To remember the delights of snowballs, and snow forts and snowmen</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not like a rainfall</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And the cacophony of colliding with roofs and gutters and puddles forming in the garden</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Delightful on the ears, and a sometimes-fitting mood</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The silence of a snowfall</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">invites a reflective evening, spoiling flakes under the spotlight of streetlamps</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the night is brighter outside than in</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not like clear skies</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That reveal the turning of the Earth, sliding of clouds and movement of people, fastened to their seats</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An oft needed reminder of our size and insignificance</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The silence of a snowfall</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Slow in movement and time</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Resurfacing memories of a lover, and moments shared</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the silence of a snowfall</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-70507888153993190032021-02-19T08:00:00.001-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.189-05:00Snowflake<div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sun's rays are weakened in the dead of winter but snowflakes melt just the same. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their tears form icicles as they descend. Sometimes crying with joy over their return to fluidity. Sometimes sorrowful over their separation from the sky. Only a snowflake can distinctly say.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Icicles hang clear and sharp until they can no longer withstand the weight of tears, release their grasp and shatter upon the ground.</span></span></div>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-15767925074365995372021-02-18T06:54:00.002-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.037-05:00Sunrise<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sun hasn’t breached the horizon yet. The sky is brightening in preparation. The trees are completely still, holding their breath in anticipation. </span></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most of the city is asleep save the early riser and the insomniac, both watching for the sunrise, one inspired, the other despondent. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sun rises either way.</span></span></p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-82568114994146310612021-02-14T18:44:00.005-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.217-05:00Rocks<div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do rocks care?<br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I feel like they do<br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t think they enjoy being completely submerged in water<br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or alone in the middle of a desert<br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe they like that space where water meets the sand<br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or on the edge of a brook<br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think they enjoy being smoothed by the steady and soft caress of moving water <br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or maybe they like to be exposed to the sun <br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Absorbing rays during the day to radiate warmth through the night<br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Attracting creatures who snuggle and sigh <br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A timeless life </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With intimate relationships </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That in their absence leaves loss and weight in their core </span></span></div>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-1598085924558328022021-02-12T18:05:00.001-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.009-05:00Grievances<p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today I witnessed someone lay out their grievances: a long list of slights, not forgiven, never forgotten.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-96f06832-7fff-7fea-9ddb-df80d4abe428"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To carry such a caravan of grief, for so long, what choice do they have but to turn all their demons into one? Like a magnifying glass focusing the sun.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wonder if either one of them will cross the threshold of preservation and walk away, so integrated are their roles.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am reminded of a time when someone told me I was a bad friend. But really, it wasn’t about me. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m not sure what kind of difference that makes.</span></span></p><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-29366160495789768982021-02-11T20:11:00.006-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.083-05:00Rocking<p><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">At first, I hadn’t noticed I was doing it. Sitting in a virtual meeting, I was rocking back and forth in my chair, and spaced out, my eyes looking absently at the sky. When I realized that I wasn’t paying attention and noticed that I was rocking back and forth, I immediately thought of my children.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-666cb565-7fff-2e4d-e7f2-c6a63d8cc7af"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After having our first child, I’d often find myself rocking or swaying back and forth on my feet while doing other things, or nothing at all, like waiting for the bus. Mimicking the rocking of my child in my arms was something I did frequently. I’d notice others doing the same, and it would always make me smile - imagining that they too had new additions to their families. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It has been a while.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I then noticed movement on my computer screen. A coworker, with her camera on, was standing during our meeting and rocking back and forth. I realized: we weren’t rocking because of habit, or memory of soothing our children. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We were soothing ourselves.</span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-83563091266100569972021-02-10T18:35:00.005-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.227-05:00Fluid<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Midday, a moment to disconnect<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Crawling into bed, turning my head toward the window</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-df6104d0-7fff-cfe9-fbae-3f2694fd1f2c" style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The sky cleared to reveal more blue than white<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The wind calmed enough for the trees to rest</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Clouds drifted casually across the sky, their pace slowing my own<br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Shapes weren’t shapes, form wasn’t uniform</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">They grew and combined, morphed and separated<br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">An identity as fluid as its content</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Would that I ever be as free</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-12257798067046749792021-02-09T17:57:00.003-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.025-05:00Broken<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 11pt;">The morning was cool, but not cold. Light, tiny snowflakes fell gently. I set out for a walk, noting as time passed that I walked alone. I surveyed the path that circled the pond and saw not a soul. Unusual for this area that is often filled with parents and toddlers and people walking their dogs. </span> </span></div><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This would have suited me better a few days ago, when I did not want to see people. I did not want to meet eyes, smile, or say hello to any and every person walking by. I did not want to spend what little mental energy I had to determine on which side I should walk to avoid a curious dog, or make room for couples who don’t afford the same courtesy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was a few days ago. Today, I wanted to interact with others. Today, I miss others. But there were none to be seen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I thought back to memorable interactions over the past year. The last friend I hugged was in the summer. An eternity in this longest year of our lives. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I rounded the last bend of the path, I saw a couple approaching. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had no intention of stopping them, or engaging in a significant way. I wanted to just smile and say hello.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They didn’t say hello. They didn’t smile. They didn’t look at me. They didn’t acknowledge me. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not that they have a responsibility to.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mind turns back to that hug. A hug that was a lingering, foggy memory from last summer, now at the forefront of my mind. A memory of arms embracing, a head next to mine, warmth of body and emotion, and a deep breath. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The physical tie that binds, now a threat. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The long history of human connection, broken. </span></p></div>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364217935094653645.post-60414779899651492942021-02-08T16:20:00.000-05:002024-02-11T11:55:48.158-05:00This is the way<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I dreamt that I met farmers who sabotaged their equipment before big corporations could repossess them. The stories they told were frustrating to hear and I felt entirely sympathetic. There was no frustration in their voices in the retelling. This is the way. This is how it goes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t know what prompted the dream, but now my mind wanders in and out of spaces that explore what feels new, what feels normal, and when we don’t even notice the change.</span></p>Tariq Pirachahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448252241636631334noreply@blogger.com0