Reading Kafka - A mild midnight struggle

Ever been in love with a book cover? The bright leafy green cover of this book in an almost inexplicable way attracts me to it every night after I finish my day's chores around midnight. Reading Kafka is a daunting task (I tried the Trial in law school and failed quite miserably at all attempts to finish it.) and it was certainly not easy understanding the first story from this lovely looking book consisting some of his most famous short stories, but this time around, I enjoyed reading - re-reading and again re-reading it till I finally got what it wanted me to get.. Or so I think..

Here is the essence that I think "The conversation with the Supplicant" carries within it:

Because all experience is understood only through the language of metaphor, it is perhaps impossible to strip away metaphor to reveal the truth of the matter. Then it would also be fair to conclude that it is impossible to experience life without interpreting your experience. 

My Hand

Attended a story telling workshop after work today. I completely clammed up and was dumbfounded despite working on 3 impromptu write ups in less than 5 minutes each. A young boy and a 60 year old woman who also attended the class were so articulate and strong in their expression that I wanted to hide under my table when it was my turn to speak.

We were assigned a quick unplanned write up on our "Hand". We were then asked to observe it for a couple of seconds and from there on develop a story- whatever or where ever, the mind takes us.. free flowing but in less than 10 minutes.

Here is my story:

A diamond ring shines beautifully on the ring finger of my chubby left hand. My nails, as always undone, cut neatly, but sans manicure. Manicure is not my thing as I don't enjoy people pulling on my hands and pushing the skin of my nails beyond their normal horizons. The skin of my hands soft, cushion like and brown from the outside, and, on the inside, deeply cut with the fate line, life line and the head line holding the strongest positions, almost teasing each other with their strength.

My hand reminds me of my father. My father, as others would tell me, was good at interpreting lines and fortune telling. He almost always avoided reading my hand. The excuse was either, "you shouldn't read a hand on a Sunday" or "You shouldn't read a hand after the sunset". Only once he looked at it reluctantly and declared confidently that the "all is excellent", patted my hand with his right hand and gave me a convincing warm look.  I felt reassured.

I was only 16, when an accident changed my life forever. Just as much as my father was interested in palmistry, my mother had a strong urge to refer horoscopes for astrological readings. Just before hitting 16 and life taking this big U turn, a sooth sayer predicted, in the same tone as that of my father, "Beginning of a Golden Period" for me. I barely with difficulty, made it to age 17.

During the next course of long and painful years, another one predicted "Life no more" !!

Here I am 17 years later, sitting under a tree, watching my parents sitting far away on a bench, writing a write up about my hand. Oh yes, my hand.. well let's say : " My hand is happiest when not in the hands of others". 

Pallavi  © Pallavi Sharma and http://findingpal.blogspot.com

Give me a feedback. Even if anonymous. I would like to know how I can improve.

Being Kind

I once knew a man, who I hope, was otherwise nice.
He chose to humiliate me, time & again and I think pride was his biggest vice.

Leaving his empire, family, friends and money, I am told, he just died.
Reproach dies with death and so when I heard the news, my heart still cried.

Too busy we are, playing each other, knowing not what tomorrow may find
I am saddened, for I wonder, would he have lived differently, if End was on his mind;

The humbling message truly is, despite the load each of us lug in our lives;
It's good to remember the importance of genuinely being Kind.

Search

What I am looking for
does not exist, I think.
time is running fast
and "Genuineness" remains just an idea I read about.