Ode to nirvana – Reviewed
Jude Itakali
The year begins
I taste nirvana with chapped lips
As Dry-season wraps January in a delirium of dreams
My mind capitulates to the sweaty climax of goals and gains
Yet even now I think of April rains
Of the chapped lip that draws a dewy gaze
Of the parched tongue that tastes a salty tear
Of the loose limb craving the grip of a single lover:
The feel of One
The growth as One
The Kiss that blurs history with a bevy of augured futures
…
You may find the rest of the poem here.
Ode to nirvana
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Analysis
“Ode to Nirvana” captures the complex, unrelenting search for truth and fulfillment, a thirst that grows with time but seems just out of reach. The poem sets this search within the cycle of a new year, beginning with the dry season—a time that symbolizes both the literal and emotional parched state of the speaker. The imagery of thirst, from “chapped lips” to a “parched tongue,” highlights the deep craving for something more—peace, love, understanding—but also the frustration that no matter how hard the speaker tries, they cannot fully quench that thirst.
The speaker’s pursuit of nirvana is presented against the backdrop of a fresh start, typical of the beginning of a new year. The opening lines, where the speaker tastes nirvana with “chapped lips,” immediately reveal a disconnect between desire and reality. Nirvana, the ideal of peace or ultimate fulfillment, is something the speaker longs for but cannot fully grasp. The “dry season” mirrors the inner state of wanting, where dreams and ambitions are plentiful, but there’s still something missing. The “delirium of dreams” in January emphasizes how our minds race toward new goals, but despite the intense energy and desire to achieve, the satisfaction remains elusive.
The poem then shifts between this yearning for nirvana and the imagined relief offered by “April rains.” The rain represents renewal, refreshment, and hope—a contrast to the dryness of January. But this relief is always just out of reach, no matter how often the speaker repeats the line, “Even now I think of April rains.” This repetition emphasizes the cyclical nature of desire and disillusionment: the rains, or the satisfaction of desires, might come, but they remain distant, as if always just beyond the horizon. The constant pull between what the speaker wants and what they can have reflects the human experience of always striving for something greater, yet often falling short.
In the middle of the poem, the speaker’s contemplation deepens as they explore the barriers to nirvana. The lines about shunning “tattletales that expose the great lies” and burying their head “in the sands of unconsecrated virtues” suggest that the speaker recognizes that their search for truth is complicated by distractions, lies, and illusions. The temptation to believe in comforting falsehoods is strong, but the speaker also knows that these lies hinder true fulfillment. The idea of “affirmations” and “consolations” points to the easy comforts we turn to, the superficial sources of reassurance that ultimately don’t satisfy our deeper hunger.
As the poem progresses, the tension between seeking the truth and the desire to avoid it grows stronger. The phrase “truth becomes incendiary” in the final stanza reveals that confronting the truth is not only difficult but potentially destructive. Truth, in this sense, is painful and unsettling, capable of burning away the illusions that provide temporary comfort. The “beautiful lie” dressed in “paper robes” symbolizes the fragility and emptiness of these false comforts, suggesting that while they may appear attractive, they are ultimately hollow.
By the end, nirvana feels farther away than ever. The speaker is left in the tension between a persistent longing for something greater and the realization that it may always remain out of reach. The desire for fulfillment is constant, but the path to it is clouded by lies and distractions, making it impossible to attain. The poem doesn’t resolve this struggle but leaves the reader with the feeling that the search for peace, truth, or nirvana is an ongoing, often frustrating journey.
Through its repeated references to “April rains” and its exploration of the difficulty of confronting truth, “Ode to Nirvana” speaks to the human condition—the tension between what we want and what we can have. The poem reflects the desire for connection, understanding, and peace, yet it also acknowledges the obstacles that prevent us from achieving these goals. It’s about the complexity of our desires and how the very things we seek—truth, love, fulfillment—are often hidden behind distractions and illusions. In this way, the poem captures both the motivation and the suffering that come with striving for something elusive and unattainable.
Photo by Colton Duke on Unsplash
