R-Ḥ-M (raḥam)
Compassionate, Motherly Love (Proto-Semitic)
Standard Definition:
A deeply protective, nurturing love, often associated with motherly care.
Poetic Meaning:
The love that shields, that cradles, that soothes. A love that does not ask, only gives.
Storytelling Etymology:
The Proto-Semitic root R-Ḥ-M is the origin of Hebrew raḥamim (mercy) and Arabic raḥma (compassion). It is tied to the word for "womb," symbolizing the most profound and unconditional love.
Cultural Context & Symbolism:
This word embodies love that sacrifices, that endures, that is as boundless as the sky. It is the love of a mother for her child, of a protector for the one they cherish.
Poem:
A shield of arms, a whispered sigh,
A love that stays when all runs dry.
Not for self, not for gain,
A love that shelters through the rain.
Reflection:
The purest form of love is the one that asks for nothing, that gives everything.
