Ghosts of Lovers Past: Gieve Patel’s Poem, Licence

This week in Daak:

1. Ghosts of Lovers Past: Gieve Patel’s Poem, Licence

2. A reminder of strength and positivity

3. Daak Recommends

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1. Ghosts of Lovers Past: Gieve Patel’s Poem, Licence

Often, the biggest impediment to love is the lovers’ past: the simmering envy of the intimacy our partner has shared with another and the irrational fear that the love they give us, is somehow, only a fraction of what has already been squandered on another.

Gieve Patel (1940-2023) gives voice to this impediment in his poem “Licence”. Better known for his paintings than his writings, Patel was a multi-talented poet and playwright, as well as a doctor by profession. In an interesting interview, he described himself as “a profane monk” whose poetry reveals “a slightly sick concern with the body”. Given his medical training, it is unsurprising that Patel often sought meaning in nerves, bones, and skin. In this poem too, we see the ghosts of past lovers taking on physical forms and intruding on the lovers’ most intimate moments.

The poem is a wonderful insight into our modern sensibilities — open communication and acceptance of each other as fully matured, sexual beings — and yet, the knowledge of past lovers brings a prickling discomfort. Are we doomed to this feeling or is there a solution? We’ll let you read and decide for yourself.

You tell me of your loves.
I tell you of all mine. An honesty we say,
A maturity. In the middle
Ofyour account, at the seventh word,
You say I’ve winced; you halt.
Go on, I insist.
In the middle of mine,
Your eyes so far amused,
Flint distractedly. But I go on.
Our words work through A licenced unfaithfulness.

But at the end when words have ceased, 
Ghosts seemingly washed off our backs, 
Who are those clamouring for attention? 
Between breast and hand 
A strange finger intrudes. Within my mouth 
Your tongue resents 
A third moisture. Move over.
Leave half the bed
Unoccupied. Our hands should meet 
To intertwine.

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2. A Reminder of Strength and Positivity

Want to carry a little reminder of strength, hope or positivity in your pocket? Check out our collection of keychains with words of affirmations in different languages.

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3. Daak Recommends

Read this gentle guide to Gieve Patel’s art, for first-timers and old admirers.

Also, old but gold: BBC’s limited edition podcast India in 50 Lives beautifully curated and narrated by Sunil Khilnani.