Glowing Eyes

From my poetry manuscript of over 100 poems, straight to your inbox. I’m releasing this piece as it has already been published in a poetry journal. It always intrigues me to read the Chinese version of my poetry, though I can’t understand Chinese. Still, it delights me that my words are reaching people in China and across the world. So why not share this profound piece about eyes with you all?

A poem called “Glowing Eyes,” which I lovingly composed when I saw that light in the eyes of a fragile Japanese gentleman but that’s not its only inspiration ( though it gave me butterflies). Love finds its way often into the life of a poet, an artist, and a young woman with a fresh perspective. The love in the eyes of animals especially birds and felines, is what truly compelled me to write it. Have you ever noticed the beauty in their eyes when you feed them? There’s a certain gratitude, a delicate sparkle that reveals their innocence. More importantly, the glow in human eyes is always profound. They are the windows to our souls, while our hearts carry the hidden key. But what happens when a person dies? Does the glow remain, or does it leave with the soul?

I’ve seen a glow in eyes

Perhaps, I might have seen my own reflection

Shimmering in the eyeballs of the ones I love.

Perhaps it might be my glowing phase that I see

Glittering in every eye I come across.

The tinted hues of sunset

The warm blues of dawn

The crispy glow of noon

The fading light of the afternoon

The wholeness in the darkness of the night

Each so evident in the sparkle of light

Every eye possesses.

Maybe with this spirited ray

My eyes shine brightly too

But I see reflections of every glowing beauty

In the eyes of the ones I love

Would be the glassy eyes of a feline

Or a bambi eye of cattle

Or a humble gaze of Aves

Or profoundness of human eye

The glow maybe the insecurities each has inside them

Shining with an undying passion to be loved

To be nurtured.

It’s a sign maybe or a hint from the unloved soul.

When life ends body might leave the same glowing light

For the past mistakes that were not fixed

For the approval that was never given

For the love that was never received

The flaws that were not embraced

It may be the last sign

the body of the deceased give.

To be loved.

To be held

To be understood

And embraced.

If I were to feel this on someone’s dying bed,

Would it be human or animal?

I’d want to wipe it off the face

If I see that light in your eyes

I’d send signals of love right away.

Before it gets too late

And the glitter fades away.

Published this piece, in Chinese/ English bilingual poetry journal, “Poetry Hall”

P.S. I hope you enjoyed it. One of the inspirations for this piece was when my father passed away. I knew I was too late to capture the glow of his soul into my heart, and it left with his soul. The guilt will linger in my soul because I failed to give love to the ones I should have given it to.

That glow is something that communicates to you after someone dies. When a person dies, they can’t speak as the soul is leaving the body; only the eyes’ light can convey something for you to grasp. I saw that, but it was too late. My feelings about this are something I’ll never lose. I saw that light in my pets when they died. You never know what it means at that time, but you do see the departure of their souls.

I may be silly for saying what I feel, but I often see the light of sacrifice in every thread of my mother’s beautiful eyes when she talks to me. It tells me everything she has lost to keep me alive. I also see admiration in the eyes of the pets I nourish, especially my bird, Evie so innocent, so heavenly.

Eyes are truly windows to the soul. It’s true; glances are enough to love someone. I hope someone I love could also see the light in my eyes. There is never a need to say “I love you” or “I miss you,” or all those beautiful words, a soft gaze and a glow say everything. You don’t know what you feel for someone until the light in their eyes makes you feel something. Try to grasp the glitter before it’s too late.

With Love,

Dua

xoxo <3