In the eyes of a man
I make him seem weak
In the eyes of a woman
I make her seem ordinary

Not my fault…

Since birth he is taught
that boys don’t cry
she is taught
that girls are fragile

In the stark light of sun
I make everyone seem
ridiculous & pathetic
In the gloominess of night
everyone is free to shed me
silently and hidden

Not my fault…

You are taught since birth
that sharing me with someone means
baring your weakness to the world

Not my fault,
That you have to wonder
How emotionless the world has become
Not my fault
that you don’t understand
the cleansing power of me
or the healing power of me
or how humane I make you
Not my fault
that you don’t know
the power of tears

© Vindhya Colombage

Tour Saint-Jacques Paris – I find this tower fascinating and this picture I took shows how distinctive its silhouette is on the Paris skyline.

The Tour Saint-Jacques is all that remains of the medieval church Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie which was tragically demolished during the French Revolution for its building materials. It now stands in a small garden and its top can be glimpsed from many parts of Paris. It was constructed between 1509 and 1523 and is a spectacular example of the flamboyant Gothic style. It marked the start of the the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela along the Tours route. On the top of the tower the sculptures represent the four evangelists (the lion, bull, eagle and man), appear on the corners.

Blaise Pascal is also commemorated there as he used the height of the tower to conduct experiments into barometric pressure.

This photograph from the Metropolitain Museum was taken in the 1860s…

Bitter, sweet, sour, tart

Are these flavours in my mouth?

Or my memories?

Written for Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge – prompt words “Sweet and Tart”

https://ronovanwrites.com/2018/02/26/ronovanwrites-weekly-haiku-poetry-prompt-challenge-190-tartsweet/

We Do Not Discuss It

*****

We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat.

– John Steinbeck –

*****

You should not honor men more than truth.

– Plato –

*****

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.

– Abraham Lincoln –