28 January, 2019

Bag of Memoirs

I have a bag of memoirs
It contains stories from the past
Marksheets of a time when I was lost
and drawings of friends I used to collect

Shirts that had grown dear to me
and testimonials of family
The first tool I ever built
and the last book I had written

Lately, the bag has grown heavy
and I don’t look at it too often
My stories travel with me every day
But the bag stays at its place

So I surround myself with antiques from the past
hoping to live in the glory of days gone by
Some day, I’ll leave these possessions behind
and move on with my stories, and my bag slightly empty

I’ll carry the gifts I received
lest someone someday need reminding
But I shall not burden my shoulders with memories
My soul shall stay full with them

And if a day should come
when my memories leave me by way of a tear
Then I’ll be all the more lighter
I do not mind

I’ll walk along looking for newer pastures
For that is all there is to life
to love a lot, to live gently
and to gracefully let go of things
not meant to be forever

Vishal Gupta
26th July 2018

18 January, 2019

15 Last Words from ASoIaF

I recently read John Green's "Looking For Alaska". And since this is not a book review I will refrain from giving any opinion about the book on this post. The idea however, comes from the protagonist, "Pudge" who reads biographies so that he can know the last words of famous figures. As he quests for the last words of his love, an idea came to me. Which is the book that I've read with a lot of last words? It would be a book with a lot of deaths. Obviously, A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) came to mind. And so, here we go. The 15 most memorable last words of from major death scenes through the series, in order of their death.

1. “For Robert!”  – Ser Waymar Royce
First death in the series

2. “Sister, please… Dany, tell them… make them… sweet sister…” – Viserys Targaryen

3. “I will give Lyanna your love, Ned. Take care of my children for me.” – King Robert Baratheon
Because every person must entrust Ned with the safety of their children

4. “I betrayed the faith of my king and the trust of my friend, Robert. I swore to defend and protect his children, yet before his blood was cold, I plotted to depose and murder his son and seize the throne for myself. Let the High Septon and Baelor the Beloved and the Seven bear witness to the truth of what I say: Joffrey Baratheon is the one true heir to the Iron Throne, and by the grace of all the gods, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.” – Lord Eddard Stark

5. “No. Must ride. Ride. No.” – Khal Drogo
Ironically, also his first word in the series.

6. “You will not hear me scream.” – Mirri Maz Duur
To which Dany replied, “I will.”

7. “…sharp” – Qhorin Halfhand
He had previously asked Jon if his sword was sharp enough, knowing that Jon will slay him later that day

8. “Who calls me bastard?” – Craster

9. “Tell Jorah. Forgive him. My son. Please. Go.” – Lord Commander Jeor Mormont

10. “Jeyne? Mother, Grey Wind…” – King Robb Stark

11. “No, don’t, don’t cut my hair, Ned loves my hair” – Catelyn Stark
Dying thoughts

12. “Oh. You know nothing, Jon Snow” – Ygritte

13. “It’s, kof, the pie, noth—kof, pie. I, kof, I can’t, kof kof kof kof…” – King Joffrey Baratheon

14. “I came to hear you confess. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. You raped her. You murdered her. Elia. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. Now say her name. I will hear you say it. She was Elia of Dorne. Elia. Say it! Elia. Of Dorne! Say it! ELIA OF DORNE! EEEEELLLLLLIIIIIAAAAA! If you die before you say her name, ser, I will hunt you through all seven hells. Say the name!” – Prince Oberyn Nymeros Martell

15. “Elia of Dorne. I killed her screaming whelp. Then I raped her. Then I smashed her fucking head in. Like this.” – Ser Gregor Clegane

08 January, 2019

Nostalgia

It has been a long time since
I have been where I wanna be
It has been a long time since
I have seen what I wanna see
It has been a long time since
I have felt as I wanna feel
It has been a long time since
I have lived as I wanna live

A long time since I have felt,
the presence of my mother with me
the belief in her voice
in everything regarding me
Her every action for care of me
Her every thought for the better of me
All I can remember now are the tears
when we had parted
and her attempts to hide them from me

A long time since I have had
those fatherly hands to support me
those calm ears which understood me
those ages gone by, which made me what I am
those struggles of agony to make my future light
those brief periods of tension, which worked for better relations
those gentle eyes emitted serenity
that peaceful face displayed divinity

Oh how on earth can I repay the people
who gave me life as it is

A long time since I have been
with friends now forgotten
the moments with small joys
and periods of silence which went by
the cherished youth shall be remembered
even when its fragments disperse
for each will carry memories
of golden times in their hearts
I could not tell them what I felt
And we parted unknowingly
And made a mutual bond to remember
the times when we were together
The days we left is all I seek
them back wants the creature in me
I know that I cannot redeem my past
and my destiny does not allow that in my path
so I rest patiently remembering
the faces that once were with me

A long time since I have held
the small hand of my little sister
and talked my heart out
with feelings and joys and pains
and when those eyes
understanding every word I say
Not interrupting and letting me speak
To lessen the burden from me
I wish she was here with me
So once more I could tell her my pains
But alas! that time has gone
when I had someone to hear me

A long time since I have een
those twinkling eyes gaping at me
Her hand I held once and she had blushed,
my very existence wanting to be with her
To see her face to see her laugh
to hear her voice to feel her presence
to smell the fragrance of her har
to see her innocence to feel her breath
is what makes survival easy now
for the desire to meet her again
shall put me up for a long time

A long time since I have talked
with the teacher who taught me to think
the man who taught me to use my power
the man who taught me to fight my weakness
the man who made me what I am
the man who believed me in everything
with whom I felt so free
with whom I seek to be
I need my teacher yet once more
to ask for advice to take me again
into the realms unknown to me
His faith in me is my strength
and I try to live up to that
His teachings guide me in sorrow
His blessings guide me in strength

It has been a long time since
I have been what I was
I have lived as I lived
I have thought what I thought
I have loved whom I loved
I have laughed as I laughed
A long time since
I had faith in myself
I held head high and challenged the sky
But one day I will be back
and re-attain all I lost
It will be soon and I will be better
and we shall be paid by Almighty for our struggle
I will be back one day
I will be back one day

Vishal Gupta