Did You Ever Love Me? by Rithvik Singh is a tender contemporary poetry collection about love, heartbreak, longing, self worth and learning to let go. Its greatest strength is emotional accessibility: Singh writes directly to readers who feel intensely and care deeply. The collection offers comfort without pretending heartbreak is simple, though its simplicity may occasionally feel familiar to seasoned poetry readers. Did you Ever Love Me? Have you ever loved someone so completely that, after they left, you were left wondering whether they had ever understood what they had been given? Not merely whether they loved you, but whether they ever noticed how much you loved them, how much patience you offered, how many small things you remembered, or how often you chose to stay when leaving might have been easier. There is a particular loneliness in that question because it rarely arrives at a dramatic moment. More often, it finds you while you are doing something completely ordinary. Yo...
Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.
She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adore him
with rich robes and treated him to the finest of
delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.
She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was
always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms.
However, she feared that one day he would leave her
for another.
She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant
and was always kind, considerate and patient with her.
Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide
in him, and he would help her get through the
difficult times.
The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and
had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth
and kingdom. However, she did not love the first
boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly
took notice of him.
One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was
short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered,
I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die,
I'll be all alone.'
Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, I loved you the
most, endowed you with the finest clothing and
showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will
you follow me and keep me company?'
'No way!', replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked
away without another word.
His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her
heart.
The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved
you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow
me and keep me company?'
'No!', replied the 3rd boyfriend. 'Life is too good!
When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!'
Her heart sank and turned cold.
She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always
turned to you for help and you've always been there
for me.
When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied
the 2nd boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk
with you to your grave.'
His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and
the girl was devastated.
Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll
follow you no matter where you go.'
The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend.
He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition
and neglect.
Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken
much better care of you when I had the chance!'
In truth, you have 4 boyfriends in your lives:
Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much
time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it
will leave you when you d ie.
Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and
wealth. When you die, it will all go to others.
Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No
matter how much they have been there for you, the
furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.
And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected
in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the
world. However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow
you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and
cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that
will follow you to the throne of God and continue with
you throughout Eternity.
Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes
you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to
pray.
She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adore him
with rich robes and treated him to the finest of
delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.
She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was
always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms.
However, she feared that one day he would leave her
for another.
She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant
and was always kind, considerate and patient with her.
Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide
in him, and he would help her get through the
difficult times.
The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and
had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth
and kingdom. However, she did not love the first
boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly
took notice of him.
One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was
short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered,
I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die,
I'll be all alone.'
Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, I loved you the
most, endowed you with the finest clothing and
showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will
you follow me and keep me company?'
'No way!', replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked
away without another word.
His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her
heart.
The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved
you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow
me and keep me company?'
'No!', replied the 3rd boyfriend. 'Life is too good!
When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!'
Her heart sank and turned cold.
She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always
turned to you for help and you've always been there
for me.
When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'
'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied
the 2nd boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk
with you to your grave.'
His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and
the girl was devastated.
Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll
follow you no matter where you go.'
The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend.
He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition
and neglect.
Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken
much better care of you when I had the chance!'
In truth, you have 4 boyfriends in your lives:
Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much
time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it
will leave you when you d ie.
Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and
wealth. When you die, it will all go to others.
Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No
matter how much they have been there for you, the
furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.
And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected
in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the
world. However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow
you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and
cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that
will follow you to the throne of God and continue with
you throughout Eternity.
Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes
you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to
pray.
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