The Baton of Fear

Ever wondered, what would happen if the skies fell down upon you while you lay under them gazing the starlight 

Or if the sun burnt you alive while you embraced the warmth of it into your lives

As irrational as this are the fears that web your existence 

Irrational still is the escapade you deemed would lead you out of the fear 

Before you knew it, it had consumed all of what you used to be 

And implanted instead, a life succumbed and subservient to itself 

Stop now. 

Stop erecting citadels to keep the fear from permeating through 

Step out of the sheepish shell and buy what life offers to sell to you 

Now is the time to be faced with the fear that floats around 

Never again if not this day 

For its wiser to battle and conquer the riches that most crave

Than carrying a burden of apprehensions to the grave 

The choice is simple and clear 

You're either alive or you're dead

No other poles were ever attached to this thread 

The greatest of lives were lived beyond the horizons of fear 

For the true meaning of success was to defeat the fear that failure bears 

So hold firm the baton of fear that has been handed over 

It is both an onus and an opportunity 

Do not let the onus restrict you, allow yourself to be liberated by opportunity 

Run wild and chase your dreams by letting the fear set you free. 

– Divya Rathi

Remember to Forget

It's been so long 
That she's counted hours that've added to days
And days that've to months 
All of which she'd spent to remember to forget you 

Years have repeated themselves over 
Bringing back all the first times and all the first days 
Driving her down to all the first places
Where she continues to take herself to remember to forget you

She grew from being naive 
To one that wouldn't ever be again 
She struggles now, to conceal her limp, for the hard crutches of resilience have begun to hurt too
Yet, pushes herself, and never ceases, to remember to forget you 

For what have you brought her
But grief and humiliation, and endless sleepless nights
Letting her go just when she would begin to believe you would never
The faith that has been walked over, only reminds her each day to remember to forget you

Don't bask in the light of irreplaceability and pride 
It was the best love you just let out and it's a roundabout life we're talking about
The limp would recover soon, and she'd walk far and away steady 
But you'd drown in the marsh of falsity you stepped yourself into, struggling to forget to remember her.

– Divya Rathi