Introspection

Self-assessment through a reflective gaze seems to be a daunting quest,
For to unfold the deepest of realms, in the corridors of memories one must invest,
Acknowledging progress and reliving achievements might feel wondrous to ingest,
While reminiscing failures and identifying defects might be hard to digest.

I have frequently succumbed to the chaotic cataclysm of the last 2 years,
It has been ground-breaking and perception shattering..facing and battling my fears,
It has been emotionally exhausting and mentally daunting..embracing the pain and wiping my tears,
It has been gruelling yet elevating, unlearning everything I was fed by society and discovering myself for real,
It has been exasperating yet forbearing, healing from the wounds of mental and physical ordeals,
It has been burdensome yet empowering, working towards turning my jeers into cheers,
Yet I have questioned everything I did, thought and felt seeking self-consciousness,
For in knowing oneself truly and completely is essential to attain internal consonance.

So my question to you is..do you ever sit down and look back on the year that’s passed by?
Do you reflect on your journey or are you a passer-by in your own life?
Do you see the things holding you back and figure out how to change things, or do you not even try?
Do you remain in a vicious cycle of sitting around whining and complaining, or do you envision battling the strife?
If not, then it’s time to start – just sit down and pick your brain apart,
Self-discovery will give more than money, fame and success can ever impart,
For wisdom and fulfillment comes not with age, but from looking within and learning from life until you depart.


Always Victorious

Most of the times, we never know how or when a great friendship starts,
Especially coz of this vast world, and our milky chance to ever cross paths,
In Thion-fucking-ville, as interns destined together to face the aftermaths,
Sharing that ludicrous apartment, while despondency tried to tear us apart.

I’m aware it took a while for us to get along – my sincere apologies for that,
While you invited me to socialise with you, I preferred being a lonesome lad,
Glad I eventually snapped out of it..for it barely took time to become your comrade,
Cooking, chilling and jamming together every night after work became a ritual so ironclad!

I feel we connected deeper when we worked together on your masters project,
I saw the visionary and creative side of you; I was more enthralled than I could expect,
T’was probably the inception of becoming potential business partners, your morals and convictions incited immense respect,
I really hope you achieve and actualise your foresight, for the world needs and would benefit from your ingenious doppler effect.

Travelling and volunteering with you in Portugal and Austria was an abundance of enrichment,
It not only widened our horizons, but also gave our bonding a sense of fulfillment,
It was the first time I let my responsible guard down and went with the flow of our displacement,
Annoyingly messy at first, but it turned out to be more fun and wholesome than imaginable – and that’s an understatement!

Seeing the progression from friendship to brotherhood has been nothing short of mesmerizing,
From high Rick & Morty, dark humour sessions and FIFA marathons to illegal underground parties in Paris and lagging jubilations in Amsterdayum..shit has has been galvanizingly tantalizing,
Surfing through stormy weather with you taught me a lot about philosophy, psychology and companionship,
A lot of life experienced and lessons learnt together in a short span of time

I want you to know that you’re on my mind even when we don’t speak,
It’s impossible to forget the one who was by my side when I felt so weak,
Immense love and gratitude for adding more value to my journey and my life than I could seek,
Our connection and understanding goes beyond what we can conceive, and it shall always remain unique.

You think you’re an asshole, but in fact a great person with great soul,
Your dedication and wit sets you apart, your existence plays a pivotal role,
The way you bounce back when you feel defeated and your constant efforts to be better than yesterday is inspirationally meritorious,
Everything you have been, are and will eventually become… in my eyes, be always victorious.

FR7224

T’was the first time ever that I had decided to go on a solo trip,
Being phoneless with an injured knee had almost forced me to skip,
I stayed unfazed and kept at it, I was excited for the Maltese flip,
Unbeknownst to me, my life would change on that very airstrip.

Fun fact – it was the first time I ever paid to reserve a flight seat,
30D – I’ll never forget the spot that made the journey so complete,
You were the last ones to board the plane, you didn’t look pleased,
Asking me to sit elsewhere, but a fully booked flight made you retreat,
Your pisellu beamed at me shyly, I couldn’t shy away from a smile so sweet,
Abandoning my Spotify ritual, I sparked a conversation quite indiscreet,
Fortunately, you put your earphones down to hear the words my mouth had to secrete,
Two distinct personalities, cultures and lifestyles surprisingly found solace in an exchange sans deceit,
I opened up about music, mental health and what mattered to me, without missing a beat,
You seemed enthralled, and unravelled yourself..the vehemence of our acquaintance increased,
The fact that both of us were upset as the flight landed, made me feel extremely pleased,
Was it fatal attraction, instant connection or impuslive authenticity that gave a glimpse of the jigsaw puzzle pieced?
T’was something much more profound, for our souls needed time to be sparked into belonging, be released and at ease.

Looking back now, it all feels like the universe conspired (through Ryanair) to make us meet,
Being lost in a non-stop discussion for the duration of the flight is quite some feat,
I’m glad you’re from Malta, otherwise asking for your number would’ve felt unnecessarily obsolete,
Truth be told..I wanted you to show me around (spend more time with me) for deep down, I knew my trip without you would feel incomplete.



Shifting Tides

Almost 2 years now that I’ve spent more time next to an ocean or a sea,
There’s just something in the solitude of the waves that keeps me company.
The waves yearn to reach the shore, like I’ve seeked self-improvement,
The shells get left behind on the coast, like I’ve been isolated through my attunement.
The crashing waves mold the sand, like my rainy days have strengthened my foundation,
The wind enables all this to happen, like the low tides in life has helped me rise to and overcome every situation.
I have felt depressed like the weather, unable to recognize my unstable conditions,
Self-awareness and self-acceptance has felt like a series of ebb and flow simulations.
Struggled even more with the turbulent storms wreaking havoc inside my heart and my consciousness,
When the tempest died down, I sat in silence..damaged with pain and lost in the trenches of my darkness,
The hardest part about surviving such chaos has always been forgiving myself and letting go of the disappointment in myself,
Until recently, I never noticed the sunlight seeping through the dissapearing clouds, like a continental shelf,
I’m grateful to be illuminated on my bright side, with rays of hope giving strength to remedy and practice self-love,
I sense the arrival of high tide in my journey, with manifestations of surreal moments of harmony and colourful skies up above.