Once the dust settles

The courtship is whirlwind
Each of us on our best behaviour
Giving and taking equally
Being magnanimous because we can afford to be.

As the whirlwind calms
And the dust settles
What remains is you and I,
Two people who must learn how to be together.

So used to the highs
Knowing only the parts we deem appropriate
It takes a while to find the rhythm
Of spending time without agendas
Handling each others’ lows
Becoming comfortable with silences
And understanding the inherent boredom of life.

Now it’s a relationship, I deem
Satisfied we can handle the calm, storm and destruction.
Yes, now I know who you are, you declare
Comfortable with our scars.

The dust has settled
And we’re out of the honeymoon phase
It had been fun while it lasted
But this, right here, the reality is what I cherish more.

The depth comes after the storm
Truth revealed, souls bared
As the ugliness also turns beautiful.
Now, we know what it means
To be in sickness and in health
Sunshine, rain and stormy weather
And why the earth loves the sky so.


Written as part of AtoZ. For more, check the Theme Reveal 2020 โ€“ 26 Letters of Love.

36 responses to “Once the dust settles”

  1. I just finished reading another post about the limitations and flaws of human emotions. And now I’m reading this.

    Good poetry always has a profound impact on people.

    Cheers,
    CRD

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much!

      Like

  2. Why the Earth loves the Sky so. In the way you look at it, it’s so beautiful that the Earth and Sky is in so much Harmony. I have always believed that true love can be known only after the honeymoon phase when the freshness of it has reduced and you start living the raw real life. That’s the crucial part.

    Like

    1. Absolutely! Even how the earth and sky at at odds and yet they love each other. Thanks for stopping by Ranjini.

      Like

  3. anecdotesofmylife Avatar
    anecdotesofmylife

    I always used to love the vows..in sickness and in health..till death do us part and how it parts!

    Like

    1. What comes together
      Must also part when its time comes.
      Thank you Harjeet.

      Like

  4. This is so far my favourite of all. The truth about love. It partly reminded me of Gone Girl.. very well penned.

    Like

    1. Thank you so much Sonia! Considering it was meant as a replacement for the poem I had originally written, this means a lot.

      Like

  5. Anagha Yatin Avatar
    Anagha Yatin

    Psalm of the committed relationship, of staying put together adjusting like the gears of the clock. Another good one from you Suchita. You appear to me as a very mature person way beyond your age!

    Like

    1. My mother often tells me that I am an old soul. So you may be right there. I don’t know about maturity, I definitely think a lot. Thanks Anagha.

      Like

  6. Now we know what it means to be in sickness and in health. Lovely! Beautifully put!

    Like

    1. Thank you. Inspired from one of our chats on the expectations from love (which you may not remember so it’s okay :P)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Haha! I was just going to ask you ‘which one’?

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Nice words. Always nice when a couple accepts & is comfortable with the scars.
    After the storm comes the calm.

    Like

    1. Very true Anita. Thanks!

      Like

  8. Sometimes the silence is deafening. All you want to do is have a sane conversation, but silence takes over. The dust settles even before you fall completely in love.

    Like

    1. A profound observation. Love does have so many stages and facets it’s unbelievable. I am so glad I decided to choose this theme!

      Like

  9. Swarnali Avatar
    Swarnali

    Again a beautiful one. Dusk resembles with our tiring souls. So true. Lovely poem Suchi. โค

    Like

    1. Tired souls but it also represents rest, no? Thank you Swarnali.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Swarnali Avatar
        Swarnali

        Absolutely. And they still love. Even more than ever. โค

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Unishta Avatar

    Lovely words that capture reality . After the dust settles .. thatโ€™s when a relationship is tested

    Like

    1. Not only tested but also becomes more real, sustainable and lasting. Thanks Unishta.

      Like

  11. ‘Comfortable with our scars’…beautiful, Suchita. There is so much being sung about the blooming love, but very little about the calm that comes after. The time when the dust settles, the way you’ve put it. The time when we get to know one another as a whole. Loved it.

    Like

    1. Which is what I wanted to portray through this poem. Thanks Darshana ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  12. jaya1966 Avatar
    jaya1966

    What you have so aptly described is the difference between the before marriage courtship days when every moment with the beloved drips with honey and the aftermath when we are brought to reality with a bump and are faced with the realities of being together constantly. Well written poem.

    Like

    1. Not just pre- and post- marriage scenes but any relationship really because every relationship goes through ebbs and flows. Thanks Jai ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  13. A mirror to the reality of life, this poem! Loved it

    Like

    1. Exactly right Meena, thanks!

      Like

  14. alpanadeo Avatar
    alpanadeo

    Sometimes, we just want to keep it going. We compromise with the silence and think its a part of our lives. We carry it year after year..

    Like

    1. So very true Alpana. We do feel, sometimes to our detriment, that staying silent is the best course of action.

      Like

  15. There’s no meaning of health without sickness. Without being sick, we would not know the perks of being healthy. Same is the relationship between separation & unison.

    There’s always a pain in love, some call in sweet-pain. And, so far, it has been reflected in every poem of yours. Kindly shed some light on its inspiration.

    Like

    1. Pain in my poems? I think there is pain in everything I write. It’s an essential part of the human experience after all.
      Inspiration for this poem? Well that was last minute panic ๐Ÿ˜€

      Like

  16. I know what it means to be comfortable in our scars!

    Like

    1. Yes, it’s a liberating feeling. Like a homecoming.

      Like

  17. So true.. after a time it becomes only a case of how to stag together. Another beautiful poem from you.

    Like

    1. Thanks Balaka.

      Like

Leave a reply to anecdotesofmylife Cancel reply