“There was rarely an obvious branching point in a person's life. People changed slowly, over time. You didn't take one step, then find yourself in a completely new location. You first took a little step off the path to avoid some rocks. For a while, you walked alongside the path, but then you wandered out a little way to step on softer soil. Then you stopped paying attention as you drifted farther and farther away. Finally, you found yourself in the wrong city, wondering why the signs on the roadway hadn't led you better.”
― The Emperor's Soul
― The Emperor's Soul
“Sean: …………And I'd ask you about war, you'd probably throw Shakespeare at me, right, "once more unto the breach dear friends." But you've never been near one. You've never held your best friend's head in your lap, watch him gasp his last breath looking to you for help. I'd ask you about love, you'd probably quote me a sonnet. But you've never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable. Known someone that could level you with her eyes, feeling like God put an angel on earth just for you. Who could rescue you from the depths of hell. And you wouldn't know what it's like to be her angel, to have that love for her, be there forever, through anything, through cancer. And you wouldn't know about sleeping sitting up in the hospital room for two months, holding her hand, because the doctors could see in your eyes, that the terms "visiting hours" don't apply to you. You don't know about real loss, 'cause it only occurs when you've loved something more than you love yourself. And I doubt you've ever dared to love anybody that much. And look at you... I don't see an intelligent, confident man... I see a scared shitless kid. But you're a genius Will. No one denies that. No one could possibly understand the depths of you. But you presume to know everything about me because you saw a painting of mine, and you ripped my life apart. You're an orphan right?
[Will nods]
Sean: You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are, because I read Oliver Twist? Does that encapsulate you? Personally... I don't give a shit about all that, because you know what, I can't learn anything from you, I can't read in some book. Unless you want to talk about you, who you are. Then I'm fascinated. I'm in. But you don't want to do that do you sport? You're terrified of what you might say. Your move, chief.”
―
[Will nods]
Sean: You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are, because I read Oliver Twist? Does that encapsulate you? Personally... I don't give a shit about all that, because you know what, I can't learn anything from you, I can't read in some book. Unless you want to talk about you, who you are. Then I'm fascinated. I'm in. But you don't want to do that do you sport? You're terrified of what you might say. Your move, chief.”
―
“Tonight I can write the saddest lines
I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.”
― Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair
I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.”
― Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair
“It was a comet. The boy saw the comet and he felt as though his life had meaning. And when it went away, he waited his entire life for it to come back to him. It was more than just a comet because of what it brought to his life: direction, beauty, meaning. There are many who couldn't understand, and sometimes he walked among them. But even in his darkest hours, he knew in his heart that someday it would return to him, and his world would be whole again... And his belief in God and love and art would be re-awakened in his heart. The boy saw the comet and suddenly his life had meaning.”
―
―
“و الله ما طلعت شمس و لا غربت
إلا و حبك مقرون بأنفاسي
و لا جلست إلى قوم أحدثهم
إلا و أنت حديثي بين جلاسي
و لا ذكرتك محزونا ولا فرحا
إلا و أنت بقلبي بين وسواسي
و لا هممت بشرب الماء من عطش
إلا رأيت خيالا منك في الكاسِ
و لو قدرت على الإتيان جئتكم
سعيا على الوجه أو مشيا على الراسِ
و يا فتى الحي إن غنيت لي طربا
فغنني واسفا من قلبك القاسي
ما لي و للناس كم يلحونني سفها
ديني لنفسي و دين الناس للناسِ”
―
إلا و حبك مقرون بأنفاسي
و لا جلست إلى قوم أحدثهم
إلا و أنت حديثي بين جلاسي
و لا ذكرتك محزونا ولا فرحا
إلا و أنت بقلبي بين وسواسي
و لا هممت بشرب الماء من عطش
إلا رأيت خيالا منك في الكاسِ
و لو قدرت على الإتيان جئتكم
سعيا على الوجه أو مشيا على الراسِ
و يا فتى الحي إن غنيت لي طربا
فغنني واسفا من قلبك القاسي
ما لي و للناس كم يلحونني سفها
ديني لنفسي و دين الناس للناسِ”
―
Raheem’s 2025 Year in Books
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