The Light That Once Was

Before You Read:

Every journey unfolds in steps, every tale in verses.
This poem is but a fragment of a greater whole, a thread in the tapestry of words.
It belongs to the Fragments of a Star, a tetralogy where each piece leads to the next, weaving a story that grows with time.
Here’s how the journey continues:
Part 1: The Star That Refused To Shine [Click here to view]
Part 2: The Light That Once Was [Posted On: 4/02/2026]
Part 3: The Eclipse–How I Was Broken [Unfolding On: 7/02/2026]
Part 4: The Flicker Of Uncertain Dawn [Coming On: 10/02/2026]

Introduction: In this poem, I reminisce about days when laughter soared like birds in flight and my smile shone like a steadfast star. Yet, beneath that brilliance, subtle shadows began to form. Over time, the constant demands and unreciprocated giving chipped away at that light, leaving behind echoes of what once was. The Light That Once Was is both a celebration of that vibrant past and a bittersweet acknowledgment of the darkness that slowly crept in.

In days of yore, I danced with the dawn, I was the spark that roused a slumbering morn; My laughter soared like birds in flight— A radiant glow, my soul bathed in light.

My heart was free to soar so high, My joy reached the angels in the sky; I spoke with kindness, near and far, My smile shone proudly, a steadfast star.

I brimmed with life and boundless love, A peacemaker, gentle as a dove; I poured my warmth with endless care,  Yet some recoiled, unprepared to bear.

That was the time when my light would gleam, As bright and pure as a cherished dream; I loved all as if they were my own, For in my heart, a seed of kindness was sown.

But I also nurtured a life all my own— A tapestry woven with joy and hues unknown; Dreams and aspirations I held so dear, Along with lingering happiness and cheer.

Yet even in my brightest hour, shadows lay in wait; Unseen cracks marred the joy I once did create. As destiny sealed its fateful decree, Only echoes of light remained—a distant memory.

In the quiet wind, whispers of my past grow still, The tender glow within submits to a winter’s chill; What once burned fierce now shudders in despair, A flicker overwhelmed by the weight of silent care.

The ceaseless tides of time and countless demands, Like crashing waves, erode the spark in my hands; Bit by bit, the brilliance is quietly swept away, Leaving a soul in twilight, shrouded in dismay.

I stand amid ruins of dreams and fading hues, Where laughter and love once wove vibrant views; Now numbness blankets the fire that once burned bright, Each day merging into a long, unyielding night.

Yet, as twilight swallows the remnants of my glow, A whisper of doubt dares softly to grow: Can I reclaim that lost, effulgent flame, Or must my heart forever be subdued by pain?

Reflection: The Light That Once Was is a meditation on the gradual loss of our inner radiance—a feeling many of us know too well. It speaks of a time when life’s demands and the burden of unreciprocated giving can dim even the brightest souls. Comment your views below! 📌 Follow for more