To make a great relationship last,
you need something deeper than just fire.
You need a heart that cares,
a mind that remembers
those silly likes dislikes of your partner;
e.g. what dress, what flower,
what colour, what flavour!
You need a soul that can be trusted,
confided in, leaned on to, and loved.
You need great camaraderie, true friendship.
Without being good friends,
it's hard to cherish and continue relationship.
Friendliness brings freedom in a relationship.
Friendliness gives you license to fly free
and let you do utterly stupid things.
You don't fear to be criticised or judged.
But if you are under pressure
to please norms, please your partner,
you would soon give up, and retire.
Passion is pulsatingly pleasing,
piercingly pervasive.
It numbs everyone it touches,
it dazzles everyone it sees.
But never does it last.
Passion not like fire, it's "the fire".
When ignited, it flames up majestically,
but after a while it dies down,
leaving burnt ashes piled up.
Those ashes may be ugly, painful,
can leave you with an indelible scar.
© Arun Maji
Painting: Amit Bhar
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem