Blindfolded

When a vow is made, it becomes truth

Whatever may happen it must be fulfilled.

When she learned his affinity to blindness

She decided that she should not

Be superior to him;

If he could not see the world

She, too, should not see its wonder.

She covered her eyes with Gandhari’s cloth,

Joined him in his darkness;

Together, they shared their breath

Beyond eternal bondage.

Reviews

[KAin]

I remember reading this story, once. There's so much beauty in the decision of Gandhari to blind herself, so that her husband wouldn't be alone in his pain.
It takes a certain amount of bravery to sacrifice something like that - but I suppose that's what faith and love is all about. Well penned, indeed.

[Belle]

One of the many intentions why I put the subject into poetry is that I want the reader(s) to explore the value of self-sacrifice in the name of what one truly believes in along with the cultural value of immaterialism, though I am always open to the fact that this poem can still be taken in many different perspective and that no perspective is right or wrong. And I do understand completely knowing that some believe in some things, other believes in something altogether different...

I get to study recently Mythology in Contemporary Literature, and was able to explore the functions of the myth in literary pieces; it fascinated me more when I found out that almost all masters from the past have their own contribution to this genre—so here I am trying to have mine too ( you know. “ There are days when I like to think that the entire world hinges on stories, and that I need to do my part to contribute to it. “… and I am enjoying creating my "I consider" will be contribution...

[KAin]

The value of it is measured in the difference between loss and sacrifice. I've heard it put once that sacrifice is a choice you make, while loss is a choice made for you. The will to sacrifice requires a great deal of resolve, a heart at peace with any situation... and, perhaps most importantly, love... It's strange. You can boil down many of the greatest narratives in the world down to two concepts - love and hate. With these things, it's amazing how much so many storytellers have done, what kind of tales might be born from them.

I've always had a deep fascination with mythology from every culture; I think it's from reading ancient mythology that my love of storytelling developed, and those narratives often stem from core themes of love and hate. And I really do think the world revolves around stories... I think society today undervalues the power of good writing and just how important it is to the world. It's the soul of everything, and the doorway to other places, other times and other people. It's a door, not only into the past, but into the many forms of eternity.
But that's just me, of course... no doubt many people have their own reasons for being what they are.
As far as I'm concerned though, to write is to live... and to live is to write.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sometimes we really give up too much of ourselves in a relationship...and often what we give does not come back to us...

[Horizon K.]

This makes me so sad... That to love someone, she gives up a most vital thing, to share in being and experiencing less... And though this is written with a mythological bend, this is truth, I know... Love will allow one to do such things, and if it is not love, the loss is even greater... I hope he loved her in return.
And I love the style of this poem as well, so different in how the thought becomes formed... I very much enjoyed.

[Coyote Poetry]

To understand another. We must know their pain and their life. A powerful poem filled with hope and love. Thank you for sharing the amazing story in the poem.
Coyote