Another Vagabond Lost To Love [Image by Amazon]

"Words are the most powerful tools we possess," Charlotte Eriksson once wrote in 'Another Vagabond Lost To Love: Berlin Stories on Leaving & Arriving.' "They have the ability to paint entire worlds within our minds, to conjure visions of places we've never seen, and to build new worlds of colours and wonders right before our very eyes."

In that spirit, I find myself envisioning the days I spent in Italy—each moment a canvas, each memory a splash of vibrant hue. The quiet mornings filled with the scent of coffee and the gentle smile of my father. The silent questions that linger in the corners of my heart—all painted vividly in the artist’s palette of words.

Words hold the magic to transport us, to create worlds where love, longing, and wonder coexist in the delicate balance of silence and speech. And just as Charlotte’s words remind us, it is within our imagination that entire universes blossom—waiting to be discovered, cherished, and brought to life through the power of language. I want to share a passage of hers with you that truly speaks to me. What are your thoughts on it?

[Image by Pexels]

“I am not a finished poem, and I am not the song you’ve turned me into. I am a detached human being, making my way in a world that is constantly trying to push me aside, and you who send me letters and emails and beautiful gifts wouldn’t even recognise me if you saw me walking down the street where I live tomorrow
for I am not a poem.
I am tired and worn out and the eyes you would see would not be painted or inspired
but empty and weary
from drinking too much
at all times
and I am not the life of your party who sings and has glorious words to speak
for I don’t speak much
at all
and my voice is raspy and unsteady from unhealthy living and not much sleep and I only use it when I sing and I always sing too much
or not at all
and never when people are around because they expect poems and symphonies and I am not
a poem
but an elegy
at my best
but unedited and uncut and not a lot of people want to work with me because there’s only so much you can do with an audio take, with the plug-ins and EQs and I was born distorted, disordered, and I’m pretty fine with that,
but others are not.”

- Charlotte Eriksson (Another Vagabond Lost To Love: Berlin Stories on Leaving & Arriving)