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The Longing That Never Returns

JoaoConstantine
Thought

Thought

NikhilRaman

You keep saying 'I remain here' at the end of each section. Do you feel like you're trapped in this, or like you're choosing to stay?

You keep saying 'I remain here' at the end of each section. Do you feel like you're trapped in this, or like you're choosing to stay?

Post content

There are longings that never return,

they merely learn how to remain.

They sit at the table with me

and drink from the same silence

we once called love.

A candle’s tears —

made of burning wax —

run down my face

as though the night itself

had learnt how to melt.

I light another flame

to illuminate what we lost,

but the light only reveals

the empty place

where I still wait for you.

There are names that are never forgotten;

they merely grow old upon the tongue.

There are embraces that never end,

because they never found the courage

to say goodbye.

And I remain here,

my heart becoming the wick,

my soul becoming wax,

slowly burning

for a longing

that will never return.

Perhaps that is love’s punishment:

not dying when everything ends,

but continuing to burn

when there is no one left

to save us from the flame.

Thoughts

  • benfromnights

    Most of this is about the burning and the longing. Is there any relief in it, or does it hurt all the way through?

    Permalink
  • PaulaOkonkwo

    The love's punishment at the end, is that how it actually feels, or is that you trying to make sense of something that makes no sense?

    Permalink
  • NikhilRaman

    You keep saying 'I remain here' at the end of each section. Do you feel like you're trapped in this, or like you're choosing to stay?

    Permalink
  • MelanieOdum

    I've sat with people carrying this exact weight. The part about continuing to burn even when there's no one left, that's where real people live.

    Permalink
  • theointhebackrow

    this hit really different

    Permalink
  • samReads2

    When you say the embraces never end because they never found courage to say goodbye, is that about a specific moment?

    Permalink
  • readsOnTheTrain

    This whole thing lives in that candle, the melting, the burning, the light revealing the empty place. It stays.

    Permalink
  • gwen64

    I keep coming back to 'they merely learn how to remain.' What made you write that particular line?

    Permalink

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Public 20 conversations 29 thoughts 50 upvotes 0 downvotes 0 series

There are longings that never return,

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