Curator’s Note: The poem by Liauw Pauw Phing explores the themes of aging, memory, and the fleeting nature of existence. It begins with the imagery of age yawning and exhaling, representing the passage of time that scatters prayers and memories. The poet reflects on personal endurance and the painful process of letting go, as the soul, once vibrant, becomes subdued and filled with longing. It captures a profound sense of loss and the struggle to retain what was once cherished. Inspired by Dr. Yildiz’s writings on aging, the poet seeks understanding of a destiny where everything spills away without returning.
And age yawns open without a word,
then exhales slowly,
gazing without mercy,
spreading like a poured prayer
with no power to be gathered back and drunk.
It flows into pools of memory.
I tried to endure,
so I let it evaporate into the cold,
carrying away whatever remains
of what once dared to ask
and shattered before it could be whole.
The soul that once spoke with devotion
now trembles, spent and unstrung,
loosening into a single plea,
a halting tear.
Perhaps it has already learned to let go,
its hands hovering slowly in the air,
until these fingers forget
how to close into a grip,
forget what they once held,
what once carried poems in its womb.
God, let me understand, if this is destined,
and if everything is meant only to spill,
never to return.
*This poem was inspired by Dr. Mehmt Yildiz’s recent writing on aging, and it moved me to write a response in verse*
Liauw Pauw Phing also writes on Medium and serves ILLUMINATION publications as an editor. You can learn mor about his background from this interview.
Leave a Reply