This poem is about resilience during tough emotional times. It highlights the inner strength that helps us get through difficulties, the humor that comes after surviving, and the truth that we are shaped by what stays within us, not by what breaks us.
It reminds us that even in difficult times, we can rise up, imperfect but strong.
# When Life Burns #
when life burns
don’t rush to escape it
sometimes fire
is just here to teach us,
wearing a loud face
you rise
not perfectly
not clean
but still rising
with ash in your thoughts,
smoke in your breath,
still—you move
and maybe you laugh
not because it’s easy
but because you’ve survived enough
to notice that you did
you are not only what broke
you are what stayed within
what didn’t leave you
when everything else did
so let it burn
if it must
you still remain—
amazing,
with your head held high
(Vijay Verma)
www.retiredkalam.com
Categories: kavita
Retiredकलम 
very nice .
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Thank you so much.
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Sir, I really do appreciate the power of the positive thoughts and images of this poem. I agree entirely with its philosophical content. Burning away the impurities and rising to a clean life, remaining there, unharmed, that is the essence of a healthy, strong mind set on triumph. Thank you for this reminder of the power of the spirit.
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Thank you, Sir.
I really appreciate the way you’ve distilled the essence of it—there’s a clarity in your reading that goes beyond agreement and feels more like integration.
What you’ve pointed to—burning away what is unnecessary and emerging into a cleaner inner state—isn’t just a poetic image, it’s almost like a discipline of attention. Not escaping life, but refining how we meet it. And that distinction matters.
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Thank you 🙏🏻 so much Sir. Yes, quite so, your poem is beautiful.
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You’re most welcome, Sir.🙏🏻
And thank you for your kind words—they’re truly appreciated.
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You are very welcome Sir. I hope that you have enjoyed a pleasant evening and are now transitioning to a good and restful night. It is always a pleasure to converse with you and I certainly appreciate our exchanges. I am sorry I have not been available regularly in these days as I am very much tied up with studio work as this is a busy time of the year for me. But I hope to get back to the rhythm of our conversations very soon. All the best to you!
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That’s such a thoughtful message—thank you for taking the time to share it.
I completely understand how demanding studio work can be, especially during busy seasons.
There’s something deeply absorbing about that kind of creative focus, so no need to apologize at all. In a way,
it’s nice knowing you’re immersed in something meaningful.
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Thank you so much Sir. I will still take time to say hello and to wish you a wonderfully creative and productive day. Have a pleasant good night Sir and we’ll catch up in the morning.
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Thank you for your warmth—it genuinely brightens the exchange. I hope your evening winds down gently and peacefully, and that tomorrow greets you with fresh clarity and creativity.
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Thank you so much Sir! I wish you the same. I look forwards to catching up tomorrow. Pleasant dreams Sir.
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Good morning, Sir.
I am on morning walk track.
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Good morning! Have a wonderful walk and day!
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Good afternoon, Sir.
Just enjoyed mt swimming session and ready for painting.
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That sounds wonderful Sir! A good swimming session calms the soul and refreshes the body. I think you will be ready to fully enjoy your painting session and be free to create. All the best to you!
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Well said, Sir.
Swimming calm the soul and refresh the body.
And I like your idea of flow carrying into creativity: swim → reset → create. That’s basically how some of the best work gets made—when the mind stops “trying” and just starts moving again.
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and maybe you laugh
not because it’s easy
but because you’ve survived enough
to notice that you did
and you have the
experience to realize
You have been here before.
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Yeah… that kind of laugh doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from recognition.
Not “this is fine” recognition—more like “oh… it’s this again”.
And somehow, that changes everything.
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A stirring testament to the resilience of the human spirit. By weaving humor into the narrative of emotional hardship, you’ve captured the ultimate survival skill—the ability to find a spark of light even when everything feels like it’s smoldering. It is a beautiful reminder that our strength isn’t just about enduring the heat, but about the grace with which we rise from the ashes. Truly a masterclass in emotional depth.
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Thank you—this is such a thoughtful and generous reading.
I’m really glad the thread of humor came through for you. It’s easy to see it as something light, but in moments of hardship, it often becomes a kind of quiet resilience… a way of creating just enough space between ourselves and the weight of things to keep going.
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