Deja vu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My life, sometimes I  ponder,

God.....did he fashion my hands and skin from another?

Am I just a recovered tired vessel,

refurbished lung and breath, reassembled, to be something fragile?

 

My fears and defects I feel are not my own,

borrowed and rented maybe, from someone once known.

Your voice just a proverbial song.

It feels ancient, but like an undercurrent, it carries me along. 

 

My story perhaps is a plagiarism of you,

a reincarnation of what I might answer, and what I might do.

With every deliberate ill-mannered step,

someone before me, has already passed, lingered, and slept.

 

My soul, has it lived before?

It seems to be the same narrow path, but a different revolving door.

Seeking answers in restorative dreams,

this body, however temporary, is not what it seems.

 

My thumbprint, a reminder of her,

your girlish vision, a familiar relic, with a haunting blur.

Is this a case of refuted Deja vu?

Or just maybe, she's a vicarious spirit, that has been there too.

Author's Note

At a very young age, as young as 3 or 4, I would dream over and over again, that I was some young girl from India. Royalty perhaps, or a servant to royalty. I found it odd that I would dream about such a thing at an age, when I had yet to even understand or comprehend countries or cultures such as India. Nevertheless, with these dreams still vivid, and a feeling of deja vu every now and then. I found a picture that reminded me of "Her". The girl in my dreams....

Reviews

[Zainab UF]

Rebirths and reincarnations are aplenty in Indian mythology, but I was really drawn in by the concept when I read about the River Lethe in Greek mythology where souls would go to wash the memories clean of their previous life. It's all so... fascinating.

This is indeed a marvellous poem, searching for answers we may never find. I felt "My story perhaps is a plagiarism of you" was a brilliant line!

[poetry-kiddo alienbaba]

As a holograph from the 3rd eye of a seer projected onto a virtual canvas of myriad shades, undertone with hushed low whispers your verses, to uncover a history shrouded in mysterious connections of severed relations to the unknown and distant mysticism of the land of the Maharajah of Kolhapur

[VALORMORE DE PLUME]

I find your talent, for expressing haunting thoughts, to be both penetrating and reticent. As a wisp of smoke from frankincense or a whisper caught in the breeze. The reflection of the concepts remain, long after the words have faded.

My soul, has it lived before?
It seems to be the same narrow path, but a different revolving door.
Seeking answers in restorative dreams,
this body, however temporary, is not what it seems.

I am particularly drawn to this stanza. It is, after all, the bud from which the petals of the poem have bloomed.
Many people gaze into the mirror in their mind. Most, focus obsessively on their own image. They are young souls and do not comprehend the purpose for the mirror.

[Lyn Anderson]

This is so wonderful, and I love the author's note explaining its origins. It makes me want to write about my own -- no wait, I already did, and it was not nearly so profound -- mine is about Cookie Monster -- and so, we dream.:)

[VennelaMargame]

Very nice writing here, the alternation of long and short lines along with the rhyme scheme gives it a certain languid, otherworldly music.

I have had my own recurring dreams, and I have to wonder what the drive is that makes them. Psychologists say that dreams might happen when the brain mistakes maintenance data, organization of concerns and stresses, hidden thoughts, as a sensory experience. Not a wonder that mesmerism was popular in the 19th Century, like in "A Tale of the Ragged Mountains" by Poe.

I would love to think of you as an Indian noblewoman in a past life. It would add a new perspective on who you are now.

[Muse]

I used to be royalty. I must have done something really bad, and now I'm reincarnated as a poor nobody. lol What were your recurring dreams?

[VennelaMargame]

Idk, royalty is it's own prison.

I had recurring dreams about a hidden road through NY state, that only I knew and could travel. It started in NYC and ran for about 150 miles up toward the lower Berkshire region, then about 150 miles west toward central NY and then through various dimensions to the edge of the universe. It's name was "Emul Alet Highway" and I have no idea what that means, but I remember the sights along it, including a creepy apple orchard where it was perpetually night and I always had the sense that something malevolent was wandering around, just out of my sight.

[Akshay Rawal]

though,being a science student i do not believe in rebirths but our mythology says so........i too ask "am i just a recovered tired vessel refurbished lung and breath reassembled to be something fragile"i think its too cool a poem to question the myth of reincarnation.Your inquisitiveness well-depicted

[Joyce S. Greene]

Fascinating, Muse. How strange you must have felt at such a young age to have those recurring dreams. Did your parent(s) take you to an Indian film at a very young age? I'm just scratching my head trying to figure out a conventionally rational reason for you to have such dreams. But, in any case, you have written a haunting poem, one that I will remember for a very long time. It's exceptionally well written poetry!

[Irfan Bashir Shah]

This is a masterpiece, period. Need i say anymore?

[Caitlin Lea]

I quite like this one. Highly contemplative and very descriptive. Beautiful lines here. I like how it reads bittersweet.

Wonderful placement of thoughts. For example:

"Am I just a recovered tired vessel,
refurbished lung and breath, reassembled, to be something fragile?"

This was fantastic for the first stanza. It caught my attention and very adequately previewed the content of the poem. Fantastic job!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i believe in reincarnation....i liked this for that reason but also for another.

i am an English teacher...and deal with plagiarism...often enough.

the way you incorporated it in this piece in the third stanza is quite good..."perhaps my story is just plagiarism of you"

great stuff.

jacob

[Muse]

Since English and good grammar were poor subject matters for me in school, any compliment from you; is much appreciated. THANK YOU

[Pendantry]

This is very thought-provoking. You are you, and yet you are also someone else: how can this be? The only way you can stay sane is if the not-you remains hidden, perhaps...