how to fall in love with the inevitable rain
if it is going to wash your favourite puddle away?

how to welcome that fall with a smile
which will wither your favourite flowers?

how to look forward to surgery
when the wound kind of feels nice?

how to look forward to death when you can't remember
what not existing before birth felt like?

how to face the reality of heartbreak
when you finally feel what vulnerability feels like?

sure, one may learn not to disturb the surface
to let the moon reflect, but

how does one not want to collect water
from the stream for himself,
to actually see the moon in the first place?

how does one not fall in love with the shards,
when broken glass is all they've seen glints of light in?

how does one dare breathe out,
when holding a breath in
is the only thing that
overwhelms that knot in their gut?

-Abdullah Alam