Maybe (a quadrille)

~ paeansunplugged

If only for one night

we had discarded religion like clothes

counted each others’ ribs,

run our hands over each others’ scarred hearts

read verses to each other from our scriptures

thereafter buried books that divided us

and saved us from religion

maybe then…

Written for dVerse. De says:
Put your heart into it, and pen us a poem of precisely 44 words (not counting the title), including some form of the word heart.

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117 thoughts on “Maybe (a quadrille)”

  1. This is so beautiful. I love the idea of counting each others’ ribs…especially if you think of them as a cage…getting to know each others’ weaknesses and chains, and helping set those hearts free. Stunning.

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  8. I enjoy the mild chastisement lurking at the tip of the speaker’s tongue. If only, if only, it seems to say. The shedding of religion like clothes is a powerfully provocative image, made even stronger with the depiction of buried words. A little dark, and I must say it’s better for it.

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. Aww! Were my words that transparent! I am sick of polarity caused by religion. I am glad you enjoyed that image. We don religion to hide our vulnerability, so shedding it would help us confront our weaknesses. So appreciate your comment. ❤️

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  9. Absolutely love this! The counting of ribs, and the provocativeness of shedding religion as if clothes. There is thoughtful heartfelt wisdom in your Quadrille.

    Liked by 3 people

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  25. Wow, I really want this to happen! What a remarkable poem! I see people here perceiving “counting ribs” in such diverse and interesting ways. How I perceived it is- Counting ribs, we know that we all are the same, with 24 ribs, enclosing the organs that keep us alive.

    However, I’d like to know from you, the poetess, what you meant by that deeply thought provoking line.

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. We all want this to happen! I love how you perceived that line, Sahana. My poem is whatever my reader sees in it. It is so fascinating how everyone perceives the written word differently. So appreciate your words. ❤️

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  27. Punam, both religions and clothes are barriers to understanding. Our cultures and creeds divide us. Differences can destroy relationships. We would do better to focus on commonalities than on differences and accept people as they are.

    Your poem is gorgeous…with haunting imagery and a wistful tone! ❤

    Liked by 2 people

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  38. Maybe then our world would not have been like this. We all have misinterpreted our God when he comes in our midst and we have made a mockery of his Teachings and made each and every religion according to our own interpretations. Awesome and profound poem, Punam.

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  47. Brilliant piece! I feel like our intuitive nature in our own scriptures and while I am not against religion by any means, it can be used as a control mechanism and we must question our beliefs. A sad regret in the end, but a lesson learned. 💕

    Liked by 2 people

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