The hardest thing in the world

The hardest thing in the world

The hardest thing in the world to bear
Is to watch a relationship die
And be handcuffed to it.

The hardest thing in the world to want
Is a need to talk to make things all right
But knowing that anything you say is going to sound all wrong.

The hardest thing in the world to hope for
Is expecting to be loved back with same intensity
When you know the source is barren and long dead.

The hardest thing in the world to do
Is loving someone with your whole soul
But not even being acknowledged in return.

The hardest thing in the world to understand
Is why truth lacerates the heart and soul
And the pain still feels raw each time it is thought of.

The hardest truth in the world to accept
Is knowledge that nothing lasts forever
But to continue life, pretending it does.
© 2009 Preeti Shenoy

For more poems click here. Some poems have already appeared in print.

Comments

  1. Wow - this is amazing

    The hardest thing in the world to bear
    Is to watch a relationship die
    And be handcuffed to it.


    I have few such friendships which I no longer call friendships because we don't have much in common. We sort of grew into different people in the past 20 years - but I don't know how to sever the ties - so we keep dragging along

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  2. Its beautiful....lines which everybody will identify with:-). For me it was...
    The hardest thing in the world to want
    Is a need to talk to make things all right
    But knowing that anything you say is going to sound all wrong.


    :-)

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  3. I second reflections...lovely poem Preeti! :)

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  4. Its amazing...

    absolutely true statements as a poem... none can put in words better than you!!!

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  5. hey.. last few of the few post are making a theme by iteself and this one fits in very well.. in addtion also reflects some of the present thoughts .. wonder how did u hear it?

    nice one.

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  6. Good one Preeti :)
    How true and yet we choose to ignore them...

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  7. Wow ! Amazing ! Sooo very true. I can identify with every part of the poem. Soo beautifully put in a poem. I ll definitely store this poem in my drafts :)

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  8. oh my God!
    wonderful is not the word!
    And SO apt!!
    brilliant thinking :)

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  9. Hard-hitting poem Preeti...You do have a way with words...

    The last paragraph made utmost sense to me personally. Each of us knows we are doing to die one day yet we continue to make plans as if we will live forever.

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  10. So true Preethi. Can identify with it so much. The last post in my blog also refers to a dead relationship because of some silly misunderstandings. You feel so helpless when you cannot make things all right..

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  11. What you have written is so true. Beautiful poem!. :)

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  12. Really heart-touching and true indeed..

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  13. Ouch! :)

    Love-until-it-hurts is a must-happen once in a lifetime. Its worth all the pain it brings with it.

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  14. Wonderful poem Preeti ; you are going to get all superlatives in the comments. One of your best verses I think.

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  15. Nice poem... :)

    I kind of recollect this song by Luther Vandross... I reflects a similar emotion..

    chk it out the lyrics of this song
    Its called Buy me a Rose...

    The youtube video with lyrics -

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhe5mjgEIRk

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  16. wow.... u rock !! :)

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  17. identified a lot with the mood the poem touched on...I have had such painful moments and it is painful each time

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  18. Anonymous1:11 AM

    Nice Poem. Nothing but the truth. :)

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  19. Wow! so true.. the thing that struck me the most was about relationships decaying and being handcuffed to it.

    Long back I had a post on decaying of relationships. Took me back to those old days.

    hey NP... the name of the story is Cast Away. Even i was deceived by the name The unwanted. but one of my seniors corrected me.

    http://books.google.co.in/books?id=-XMeUKOIdvAC&pg=PA185&lpg=PA185&dq=Story:+The+Castaway+Tagore&source=bl&ots=9-PRlDEzEY&sig=CZj68UDL4VJWJaLyPfqIdY5F-98&hl=en&ei=pUrNS4WHDoS4rAecuYVy&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CC0Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

    brilliantly done Preeti

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  20. The hardest truth in the world to accept
    Is knowledge that nothing lasts forever
    But to continue life, pretending it does

    //I loved these ...nice one Preeti. Dont know how to comment sensibly here without sounding repetitive..you always write nice stuff

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  21. beautiful poem .. each letter true..

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  22. Most of life's important lessons are learnt only when we encounter some of these hardest things!!! Very profound poem :-)

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  23. can i just say one word "BRILLANT" loved ur poem.....
    The hardest thing in the world
    is to compliment this poem
    Knowing everything u say falls short

    More power to you and God bless you always

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  24. that so stirs-the-soul stuff. what many would find it hard to put into words, has been done so well, with ease, tinged with pain ofcourse. lovely.

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  25. What? YOU? NO!!!

    You don't seem in anguish to me.
    You are hopeful, wonderful, inspiring.

    Who is doing this to you? I'll set them straight!!!! xoxo
    Love to you...wonderful gal.

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  26. Soul stirring words. Cest la vie. This will also pass. Life goes on. Passing time will mask the wound and make it dormant, but like you correctly said, the raw pain will be triggered, each time it is reminisced.
    May be my words seem disconnected - wrote what I felt after reading your words..

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  27. Absoulutey True.........and Well put.....congrats ...liked it a lot!

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  28. > Thank you all for the wonderful comments! I begain to write individually but realised I'd just be repeating myself. So a heartfelt thanks to all who appreciated. Your words do matter a lot.

    Gillian: I am ok :) thank you for looking beyond! xoxo

    Abhi: Guessing the second part of the comment was for someone else

    Shyamgovid: lovely video and song. i did watch it.

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  29. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  30. ooh yeah.. really sorry.. seems like the cache didn't pick up the ctrl+C :)

    i intended to paste the url of the post of mine.. hope u lyk it.. i paste it once again

    http://intangibleabhisek.blogspot.com/2007/06/do-relationships-decay.html

    hope u lyk it

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  31. beautifully written! I really liked every paragraph!

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  32. hey..i have been following your blog its been a long time now but never got the chance to post any comment but after reading this post i cannot stop myself to do that..i have tears in my eyes,its really touchy(i just broke up with my ex after 4 years of relationship)..i don't have words now!!i have read your book as well and i really liked it and eagerly waiting for your second book..I would like to know your email address..takecare

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  33. There is a beauty to simplicity. Every word written in gracility.

    kindly visit my poetry blog if time permits

    http://thepoeticdiaries.blogspot.com

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  34. What can I say
    for it's just a tautology (of above comments)
    about a perfect eulogy (for the buried relationships)

    I tried to be creative
    only to realise I am repitive!!

    Keep rocking!!

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  35. What can I say
    for it's just a tautology (of above comments)
    about a perfect eulogy (for the buried relationships)

    I tried to be creative
    only to realise I am repitive!!

    Keep rocking!!

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