Grief · Life · poetry

Life Can Be Hard

Sally

Hiding in my room, back pressed against the door
Don’t come in, I whispered, while outside he swore
Barely could I breathe — in fact I held my breath
This ghutan was a feeling that felt worse than death

Now I live alone, the chaos pushed outside
With qaraar peace inside me, I am fortified
I can face tomorrow and tomorrow and again
Home now is a sanctuary, quietness within

And yet the ache of failure lingers in my heart
Did I do enough? Where did it fall apart?
Nobody will know all the secrets that I hold
But kasak gently holds my breath, as I breathe uncontrolled

This week’s W3 prompt from PoW Destiny:

Some words hold a whole experience within them. This week, use one or more of these Urdu words to tell a story through poetry:

  • Kasak (کسک)
    Pronunciation: “kuh-suk” · IPA: /kə.sək/
    A lingering ache—something that stays with you long after a moment has passed.
  • Qaraar (قرار)
    Pronunciation: “kuh-RAAR” · IPA: /qə.ɾɑːɾ/
    A quiet sense of peace—something that steadies you and helps you feel settled.
  • Ghuttan (گھٹن)
    Pronunciation: “ghoot-un” · IPA: /ɡʱʊ.ʈən/
    An unspoken feeling of suffocation—as though something inside you has no room to breathe.

Poetry form: Your choice, in 12 lines or fewer.

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Published by Sally

22 thoughts on “Life Can Be Hard”

      1. I don’t know Urdu either. But the 3 words we were given to use (use 1 or all 3) came with pronunciation and definitions. So it was just a matter of slotting one of them in…

      2. I think I didn’t say that well. I really liked the challenge — but it was hard for me. I would say that using words from a language and culture that I don’t know are like someone handing me a hammer, and I’ve never seen a hammer before. But it seems pretty straightforward how to use one. The person who handed it to me explains it to me. Still, I have some uncertainity the first time I go to hit something with the hammer. I worry that I didn’t do it right. Does that make sense? (yes, yes — I know. I worry too much.)

  5. I echo Suzanne’s words, Sally …you made me catch my breath with that last line…
    Even as tomorrow’s dawn new days, those yesterday’s linger … perhaps this is the balance… (🥴)
    a beautiful and touching poem.
    indeed, Life can be hard…

    thank you, Sally …🤍🌷

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the prompt, Destiny! I had to let those new words rest in my heart before I could try to write the pome. I’m glad it worked.

      Reply

      1. I know how this goes 😬… i had to do the same, and first wrote a bunch of non-sense(🥴🤭) before i got the feel the words too…
        the poet in you and just you – captured and expressed the essence of it so well…thank you once again – and sorry for the long stories…😬lol..

        🤍🙏

  6. Sally, I love how “the chaos pushed outside” reverses the power at that door, while the lingering ache reminds us that claiming a sanctuary doesn’t mean every fear knows it has been evicted!

    ~David

    Reply

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