Paper Boats

Once, long ago

I floated those little paper boats

down the sparkling stream.

I gazed at them in abundant joy

as they sailed one by one

to a land far away.

Sometimes, it rained;

leaving my little life boats

all feeble and wet.

I held tight,

bit my teeth hard

and prayed for

their safe voyage.

I chased their trails,

and kept a keen watch

until I lost them from sights.

Today,

those little paper boats

have arrived here.

But,

an eon has passed;

we sailed far too long

for far too little

to meet again.

Now, we disremember

to know each other.

those little paper boats

I once floated 

long ago.

- AH, 03/01/2017

Reviews

[Marie]

Childhood reminiscences are beautifully penned in this captivating poem, Abhilish. Little boys love to make paper boats and float them on the river. When I was growing up, the little boys used to make paper boats and float them on the channel between the kerb and the road after a very heavy shower of rain. Like the little boats of childhood, friends too drift away from us on "The Sea of Life" and meeting them eons later, the connection is not the same if it is there at all, in so many cases it may be lost and beyond reconciliation. I love the visual detail in this poem, it is so pure! The poem is very finely expressed and to me it's an allegorical gem! Superb write! I so enjoyed reading it and it brought a few childhood memories to me as I read. THANK YOU! for sharing, Abhilash!

[Abhilash Hegde]

Thank you for the kind words, Marie. As you recollected, I did the very same as a little boy, making paper boats and float them down the channel after a heavy downpour. I'm glad to hear your reminsces and thoughts. So true, after eons later, things may not turn out to be same. Much appreciated and grateful for this review. Thank u :)

[Marie]

Most welcome always, Abhi. It is lovely to read that you also floated paper boats down the channel after a heavy downpour. I wonder that little children, regardless of which country they live in, enjoy the same methods of play. Sadly, that has changed with the passing of time and children now no longer play outdoors in the sun, in the rain and do not spend time with Mother Nature due to now being tuned into their mobile phones/tablets/play stations, so really they have no childhood and in time to come will have no childhood memories to look back on, Abhi. Wondering how/if that will affect them? I guess they will have their own though very different memories to recall! Wishing you a very lovely, blessed and pleasant Saturday. Have an equally nice weekend too...

[Abhilash Hegde]

Yes true, these days kids don't interact with nature or play much outdoors. It's sad how technology has made us more inward than outward. Hopefully, kids who are growing up now will have their own version of childhood stories to tell, which would be starkly different from ours. But I believe childhood is childhood, it would still be special like it always is, for us then and for them now. :) Have a great rest of weekend, Marie!

[Marie]

I agree 110% , Abhi. Each generation will have their own childhood memories, different from the generations gone before, but very special for them too. Thank you for your very kind greetings. I too, wish you a great rest of the weekend, Abhi!

[Shreya Dixit]

This poem brought back so many nostalgic memories of my childhood. The imagery of the paper boats sailing away is both beautiful and thought-provoking. It's a lovely piece that captures the fleeting nature of time.

[Abhilash Hegde]

Thank you Shreya for sharing your thoughts on the poem. Appreciate it.

[Amanda Reynolds]

Wow, this is so beautiful! Childhood, dreams, hope, fragility, and questioning memory... My grandfather was the first one to teach me origami by way of a paper boat and your poem evokes too much for me to express in this comment but inspires me to write a new poem- thank you so much! also check out my poem "Dear Origami" I know it is not directly related to your beautiful poem but you may see how it connected to me, which is what great poetry should do, and yours has.

[Abhilash Hegde]

That's such a sweet memory you shared about Origami from your childhood. Everyone has some or the other childhood memory we dearly cherish. There's nothing like it to work your back again being in the childhood times and wish we could get it back. I read the "Dear Origami", such a beautifully penned poem. Thanks so much for visiting and sharing your wonderful thoughts, Amanda. Appreciate it!

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful work. You bring this memory to life.

[Abhilash Hegde]

Thank you Thomas for reading and the review.

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Hail Poet and Philospher!

I have savored your thoughts penned as majestic words, have delved within your treasury's store of Wisdom, have found myself rejuvunated and restored within each and every line that dost fit as true to our lives as they are lived in remembered yesterdays in greeting memories as our todays which do serve to direct the paths of our tomorrows ...

Listen and listen well! Never rest your quill. Never allow your heart and mind to be bought, nor sold ...

[Abhilash Hegde]

Thank you Marvin for reading and sharing your thoughts on this write. Appreciate it very!

[Arundass TP]

Your poem took me to my child hood days, when I made paper boats and enjoyed. Nostalgic poem. Loved it.

[Abhilash Hegde]

I'm glad to know, you enjoyed the poem and it took you to childhood days :) Thank you Arundass for reading and leaving a review.

[Arundass TP]

Welcome friend 😄

[Cherrie Palmer]

I love the line ... disremember ... which suggests we refuse to. Your title caught my eye, and I am glad I stopped by for a visit.

[Abhilash Hegde]

Yes, life is that! - we forget, we refuse to remember and only past can remind us of who we were sometimes and what we became.
Thank you Cherrie, for stopping by and reading.

[Coyote Poetry]

The joy and the fun of our youth. We can rebirth by teaching our children. A wonderful poem shared Abhilash.
Coyote

[Abhilash Hegde]

Thank you much for reading. Glad to hear your thoughts on it. Appreciate you stopping by and reviewing this write.

[Coyote Poetry]

I did and you re welcome my friend.

[Dara]

A very sweet nostalgic write. Those childhood memories keep us from losing some of the wonder and hopefulness that often accompanies youth. A wonderful read for a rainy day here in North Carolina. I wish I could send some your way!

[Abhilash Hegde]

Thank you Dara for visiting and sharing your thoughts on this write. I wouldn't mind if you sent a couple of Paper Boats my way, it hardly rains in SD though :D

[Dara]

I almost feel guilty with the deluge we are having accompanying Hurricane Sally and poor Cali so dry. Do take care and safe from the fires, pandemic, etc etc.... :-(

[Abhilash Hegde]

lol! I get the pun here :P
Yeah, let's all be safe from all that is happening around us. Hope we will get to end of this year soon. Praying! :)

[barleygirl]

This is brilliant in its simplicity, the way your straightforward description conjures up a TON of stuff! Of course we all remember following a leaf that's floating down a stream & pretending it's a boat. Where do all these boats/leaves end up? Your poem speaks to me of the wonder of chasing a thing . . . it's always so much better than catching the thing. After we catch it, it becomes hard work to make life happen with whatever prize we think we've won. It's so much more fun to just keep chasing the dream. Some people never graduate beyond that (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Abhilash Hegde]

Truly!.. leaves/paper boats - we followed them down a stream and always kept a watch where they ended up. I'm so glad to hear your perspectives on this one and your thoughts indeed are so true. Definitely, Life more is more fun when we chase our dreams and keep it alive.
Best, Abhilash