Aleph

"They say that in the second before our death, each of us understands the real reason for our existence, and out of that moment, Heaven or Hell is born. Hell is when we look back during that fraction of a second and know that we wasted an opportunity to dignify the miracle of life. Paradise is being able to say at that moment: 'I made some mistakes, but I wasn’t a coward. I lived my life and did what I had to do.'"



"What hurts us is what heals us. Life has been very hard on me, but, at the same time, it has taught me a great deal. You can’t see it, but my body is covered in open wounds that are constantly bleeding. I wake up each morning wanting to die before the day is out, but I continue to live, suffering and fighting, fighting and suffering, clinging on to the certainty that it will all end one day. Please, don’t leave me alone here. This journey is my salvation."

Words are tears that have been written down. Tears are words that need to be shed. Without them, joy loses all its brilliance and sadness has no end. Thank you, then, for your tears.

Taken from “Aleph”, by Paulo Coelho

A Hero

Three times I had the lust to kill,

To clutch a throat so young and fair,

And squeeze with all my might until

No breath of being lingered there.

Three times I drove the demon out,

Though on my brow was evil sweat. . . .

And yet I know beyond a doubt

He'll get me yet, he'll get me yet.




I know I'm mad, I ought to tell

The doctors, let them care for me,

Confine me in a padded cell

And never, never set me free;

But Oh how cruel that would be!

For I am young - and comely too . . .

Yet dim my demon I can see,

And there is but one thing to do.




Three times I beat the foul fiend back;

The fourth, I know he will prevail,

And so I'll seek the railway track

And lay my head upon the rail,

And sight the dark and distant train,

And hear its thunder louder roll,

Coming to crush my cursed brain . . .

Oh God, have mercy on my soul!

by Robert William Service

പാരിതോഷികം

മാധവിക്കുട്ടി

‘ഞാൻ എഴുതുന്നത്‌ ഒരു ആത്മബലിയാണ്‌. തൊലികീറി എല്ലുപൊട്ടിച്ച്‌ മജ്ജ പുറത്ത്‌ കാണിക്കുകയാണ്‌ ഞാൻ. ഇതാണ്‌ ആത്മബലി. പലതും എഴുതുമ്പോൾ എന്നെത്തന്നെ കൊല്ലുകയാണ്‌ ഞാൻ’ .