Tales of Inanimate Objects

Catching Up and Staying Still

This month has been spent not consuming anything; by consuming I mean literature. But wouldn’t an actual act of not consuming anything be the first in human history?

I let myself stay still for a little while.

But now May has come to an end and with May, blooms Spring and with Spring there is hope and there are flowers.

So we move forward.

The Wasteland by T.S. Elliot is a well-known poem which seems to fit this theme and reminds you of the constant nature of change. Link 

I couldn’t think of anything to tell you in a coherent manner just yet; my mind is running in a frenzy in a dozen different directions. But I thought I would give you a little peek into a tiny part of my perspective, into my world.

Since pictures are worth a thousand words and I am a little short on words, I put together a collection of pictures for you instead.

You can find the collection here: link

(Yes I made it a book)

I put together these photos for you which date back to a year ago. These are the smallest of all the fragments I have lived through (and captured) from the era of the Modern Plague.  (The name is catchy, don’t you think?)

And now, we move forward.

We always move forward. It is the condition of human existence and perhaps, the only constant which is a companion to change: the fact that we move forward. Humans survive and humans dredge on forward.

Even in the most dreadful of times, we lunge forward thinking of a hopeful future. I think the default state of human condition is to lean; to lean on a terrible past as a justification for our horrors, or perhaps in remembrance of better times, and we lean towards the future as a crutch; a time where everything is exceptionally majestic. But it seems to do the trick for no one wants remember things as they are: we remember the past a little more rosy than it was and the future a lot more brighter than we are working to make it.

I haven’t picked up a single piece of literature I picked up and actually finished completely and I have spent too much time in the company of inanimate objects these past couple of months. 

So I thought, what better time to recommend some endearing poems about inanimate objects!

All the titles to poems are links to the respective videos/ websites

Poetry Recommendations

You are Jeff - Richard Siken

This poem is rather 24 poems under the same title and it keeps wrenching your heart one after the other. It feels like a gut-punch and heart ache at the same time. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Spoken Word Pieces:

Numbers Man - Phil Kaye

I needed to take a few moments after this and marvel at the fact that Phil Kaye can in fact make you emotionally invested in the story of a laptop. It is a gorgeous poem and I urge you to give it a listen. Phil Kaye will make his way into your heart right from the first moment.

Paper People - Harry Baker

This charming (and at first confusing) poem was one of my first introductions to the technicalities of Spoken Word; and how creative you can get with the sounds involved. This entire poem is an alliterative artwork which will leave you a little despondent.

The Theory of Evolution - Megan Falley

This poem says everything which needs to be said and Megan Falley says it with the determination it needs. The Theory of Evolution and perhaps how we walked backwards with our addiction to electronic devices.

A Love Letter… - Sarah Kay

Sarah Kay wrote a series of poems where she wrote love letters between inanimate objects and this is one of the poems “Toothbrush to the Bicycle Tyre” and it is such a delightful and heartfelt poem about love between a Toothbrush and a Bicycle Tyre. 

These are but a few pieces I wanted to share with you. I thank you for the pleasure of your company and attention for this, albeit short but, lovely conversation.

Until next time.

Here is a link to all my Social Media Handles: Link

Signing off,

Anika :)