This is a bold declaration of presence and purpose. It celebrates resilience, passion, and the courage to embrace life in all its sweetness and pain—choosing to feel deeply, rise boldly, and claim every moment of this fragile miracle called life.
# I Choose to Live #
I breathe because I feel,
I write because my soul won’t stay silent.
I taste the sweetness,
I swallow the bitter,
I dance in the fire of every moment.
I stumble, I break,
I rise with bruises like medals of honor.
Every scar whispers a story,
Every tear nourishes a hidden strength.
I chase the sunrise,
I hold the night,
I drink from the cup of life
Even when it burns.
Between birth and the quiet end,
I refuse to live half-heartedly.
I am here,
I am raw,
I am alive.
And this fleeting, fragile miracle—
I claim fully,
In every heartbeat,
In every breath,
In every fleeting second.
Because I choose
To live my life.
(Vijay Verma)
www.retiredkalam.com
Categories: kavita
Retiredकलम 
Verma ji, nice, this poem hits deep—raw, fierce, and unapologetically alive! Love how it turns scars into medals and claims every burning sip of life. Pure fire; inspires me to breathe bolder.
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Thank you so much for reading so closely and for such powerful words. It truly means a lot to know the poem resonated with you at that level. If it could turn scars into something worn with pride and spark even a moment of bolder breathing, then it has done its work.
Grateful for your encouragement and for sharing this energy back—may we both keep choosing to live fiercely and honestly.
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A poem that celebrates embracing all the bitter-sweet dimensions of life, progressing through trial and error, existing with an awareness of the value of every moment, and making this a conscious choice—a powerful affirmation of life and a manifesto of personal resilience.
Good day, dear writer.
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Thank you for such a thoughtful and generous reading. Your words capture the heart of what I hoped to express—the courage to choose life in all its contradictions, to learn through missteps, and to stay awake to the worth of each moment.
I’m deeply grateful that the poem spoke to you in this way. Wishing you continued strength, awareness, and grace on your own journey.
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A most beautiful poem filled with love, and genuine feelings. Lovely work Sir!
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Thank you so much for your kind and generous words. They truly mean a lot to me.
I’m grateful that the poem resonated with you and that its feelings came through as intended. Your encouragement is deeply appreciated and very motivating. 🙏✨
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It is always a pleasure Sir! Wishing you a peaceful and restful night. All the best.
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The pleasure is truly mine. Thank you for your warm wishes — they are sincerely appreciated.
Wishing you a peaceful, restful night as well. Catch you in the morning. 🌙✨
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Thank you Sir! Catch you in the morning! Good night and sweet dreams.
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Good morning, Sir.
I am on morning walk track.
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Good morning! Enjoy your walk Sir!
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Thank you, Sir,
Today enjoying my painting session.
Happy Sunday.
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Always a pleasure Sir! Enjoy the session and I am sure you will be pleased with the work you will do in many ways! Happy Sunday! (Very cold, snow and rain here today, so no walking track for me today) 😊 🥶 ☔️ ❄️
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Yes, Sir.
Enjoyed the online class. How is your day ?
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So glad you enjoyed it! I have been working, still, diligently on the revisions to the manuscript of my book. All the best to you Sir and enjoy now a sparkling evening!
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That’s wonderful to hear — your dedication really shows, and it’s inspiring to see such steady, thoughtful commitment to your book.
Revision is quiet, patient work, and it’s often where a manuscript truly becomes itself. Wishing you clarity, momentum, and many small breakthroughs along the way.
Thank you for the kind words, and I hope your evening sparkles with ease, warmth, and well-earned rest. ✨
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Thank you so much Sir, and you are quite right, In the revision is where your manuscript really comes alive, as they say: Good writing is re-writing. May you enjoy a peaceful and restful night. Sweet dreams Sir. Catch you in the morning.
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Thank you kindly — that means a great deal. You’re absolutely right, the rewriting is where the work finds its true voice and depth. I appreciate your thoughtful words and encouragement more than you know.
Wishing you a peaceful, restorative night as well. Sweet dreams, and until the morning — take good care. 🌙✨
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Thank you 🙏🏻 Sir, very much! Wishing you a very happy and creative day!
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Thank you so much, Sir. 🙏🏻
I enjoyed poem writing today.
Wishing you a joyful, peaceful, and wonderfully creative day as well! 😊✨
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Thank you 🙏🏻 for the well wishes Sir, and I wish for you as well, all the good things £
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You are most welcome, Sir.
Stay happy and blessed.
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Thank you Sir, you too! Have a lovely evening and a restful and peaceful night!
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Thank you , Sir.
Wishing you a lovely evening as well, and a restful, peaceful night ahead. 🌙✨
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Sweet dreams Sir. Catch you in the morning!
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Good morning, Sir.
I am on morning walk track.
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Good morning! Enjoy your walk Sir! Today, finally, we have a beautiful, cold, but sunny day and I was able to have my morning walk as well. Hope you are having a lovely, creative and blessed day!
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Good evening! 😊
That sounds like a perfect day at last—cold, sunny, and just right for a refreshing walk. I’m so glad you were able to enjoy your morning stroll. Wishing you a calm, creative, and blessed evening ahead, with time to unwind and carry that sunshine into the night. 🌙✨
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Thank you so much Sir. I am still working on the revisions to my manuscript. I expect it will keep me engaged for a few more days, perhaps weeks. It is a timely process, slow and meticulous, but rewarding and creative. All the best to you. Have a happy evening in the warmth of good company and good cheer.
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Thank you so much Sir. 😊
That kind of slow, careful revision is where the real magic happens—where the work deepens and begins to truly sound like itself.
It’s demanding, yes, but also a beautiful form of devotion to your craft.
I admire your patience and commitment to letting the manuscript take the time it needs.
Wishing you clarity, calm focus, and those small, satisfying breakthroughs along the way. And thank you for your warm wishes—may your days of revision be creative and rewarding, and your evenings gently
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Thank you so very much Sir for your kind words and well wishes. Have a peaceful, restful night. Sweet dreams and catch you in the morning!
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Good morning, Sir.
I am on morning walk track.
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Good morning, Sir.
I am on morning walk track.
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Good morning! Enjoy your walk Sir, and the blessings of a beautiful day! Here it is grey, cold 🥶 and raining ☔️ so no walking track 🚶 for me! 😌. Wishing you a creative day! 😊
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Good evening, Sir.
Thank you so much for the kind wishes 😊
Sorry to hear it’s grey, cold, and rainy your way—those days are perfect for staying cozy and letting creativity wander indoors ☔️🥶.
Wishing you warmth, comfort, and a gentle, creative flow today too.
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Good evening Sir! May you enjoy a lovely evening and if you are playing TT, I hope you win!
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Good evening, Sir.
! Thank you so much for your kind wishes 😊
I hope your evening is just as pleasant. And yes— I am just ready for the TT game.
Warm regards and best wishes to you as well
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Wonderful Sir! I hope you won your matches today! And thank you!
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Thank you so much, Sir.
Yes, there were tough matches and result is 50:50.😊😊
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Not bad Sir, not bad at all!
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Thank you, that’s very kind of you! 😊
I’ll gladly take a “not bad at all” — much appreciated, Sir.
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Phenomenal! 👍😊👍
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Thank you, Sir.
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Always a pleasure!
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Thank you, Sir.
Stay happy and blessed.
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You too Sir!
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Good evening, Sir.
Have a sparkling evening with friends.😂😂
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Thank you my friend! May you too enjoy the evening and also a restful and peaceful good night. All the best!
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Thank you, Sir.
Evening was fine as I won all the double matches .
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Lovely, I sense the fierce, yet fluid declaration of this poem. It is an infectious affirmation! 🙂
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Thank you — that’s such a thoughtful and energizing response. I’m truly glad the poem came across as both fierce and fluid, and that its affirmation felt alive to you.
Your words add another layer of meaning, and I appreciate them more than you know 🙂
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A truly powerful and heartfelt piece. 🙏
Your words breathe courage, honesty, and a deep reverence for life in all its light and shadow. Every line feels lived, not just written—raw, brave, and beautifully human. This declaration of choosing life, fully and unapologetically, is deeply inspiring. Respect to the author for such soulful expression and clarity of purpose. 🌿✨
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Thank you so much for receiving it with such openness and care. Your words mean a great deal to me—they tell me the piece reached its purpose. Writing it came from a very real place, shaped by both light and shadow, so knowing it felt lived rather than merely written is deeply affirming. I’m grateful for your thoughtful reading and generous spirit. 🌿✨
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very nice .
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Thank you so much.
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bruises like medals of honor … loved this line ❤️
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That line stays with you, doesn’t it? ❤️
I’m so glad it resonated. Sometimes the bruises really are proof of how bravely we showed up.
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Wow, powerful and life-affirming verses! You’re a poet too! Such a gifted writer. How to be you, Vijay?
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Thank you so much—that really warms me! 😊
I love the way feel life, emotion, and small truths.
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