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!

[A.H.]

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...

[A.H.]

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!

[petec3638]

Following years of working as an industrial control instrument technician I took to teaching my trade
My students were 17 to 21 years old apprentice instrument technicians
For three years they came to study the technical information each year going deeper, more technical
At 21 years old they were sent out on their individual yourneys
Where to?
One went to Saudi Arabia, another emigrated to Canada
One took over my position, when I retired, to set out on another journey
He is now preparing his students for their journeys, spreading around the world on their jouneys

[h d e rushin]

I was amazed to learn that AI can write poems now. But what science and technology hasn't figured out is how absence affects the soul. But in 'poetry time' time shoulders up to longing just as space realigns itself to our capacity to remember. Today, all the 'little paper boats' we held tight to just a few months ago have been washed away by our mistrust of each other. The biblical metaphor here is astounding: "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you are returned to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust and dust you shall return". Genesis 3:19. "Now we disremember to know each other". Damn! What a line. dana

[A.H.]

Thank you for reading and the comments. I appreciate your deep thoughts! Best, A.H.

[emmajoygreen]

Memories! When my brothers, sisters and tiddler me used to stand on Uppish bridge and throw scraps of paper, twigs or occasionally prepared paper boats made from torn pieces from wee note books or perhaps half pages of a newly bought newspaper that almost inmmediately had to be replaced in case the shop ran out of them! And we'd have races running or striding from one side of the bridge to the other til we ran out of breath or the paper boats sank! Good old days and games 'til online activity became THE thing to do but far too often alone. Your words have brought back such wonderful memories. It's so wonderful to have someone, you, write such fine words that they recreate the past and bring smiles to lips and heart! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

'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.'

Innocent and beautiful thoughts that make my heart sighhhhhh.

[A.H.]

Hi Emma, I am so glad to hear this write brought back those fond memories of the childhood. Totally agree, nothing beats those good old days and I miss 'em a lot. When I was a kid, being outdoors with other kids was always fun, make paper boats, paper planes, and play with them, run around, play cop and thief - so many memories come to my mind. And it's true that with times things have changed much now. Nonetheless, those were golden days and it always brings smiles when I think of those days.

Thank you for reading and sharing those wonderful memories of yours. I really enjoyed to hear them and cheers to those good old childhood days!
Take care, A.H.

[emmajoygreen]

'The child within is what lives forever.'

[A.H.]

so true :) always!

[red93]

This is much better AH, see how Free Verse releases yr utterance. Excellent ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[A.H.]

thank you red93 for reading and sharing your thoughts.

[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.

[A.H.]

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

[Amanda Renee]

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.

[A.H.]

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.

[A.H.]

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 ...

[A.H.]

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.

[A.H.]

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]

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.

[A.H.]

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.