I am tricked into this game of life.
Care to hear something about it?
You could be one like me too,
So please do spare time to read this-
I remember telling my heavenly father
That I am no good at this.
He (has) sent me to this field, nevertheless.
It’s a maze, and I am trying to graze my way out.
I asked Him several times the rules, the methods-
He simply said that I’ll learn it by experience.
It’s the most difficult game.
I saw some take a cake walk
And simply make their way to triumph.
Is it some trick they know? I wondered.
I now took care to observe.
Yeh! It is simple. Just keep your balance.
Well, I thought it was splendid
And almost considered that I could be successful.
Not so, never, never, not so easy.
I tell myself at bed times, that morning would be different.
Different indeed, with many more hurdles.
Suppose I say, “oh god this person simply unnerves me.”
I realise I’ve made the greatest blunder.
I think god understands opposites.
So He keeps me in the company of that person
Until I lose my head and my temper.
But then, I lose, if I frown.
So I try to smile through my grief.
Never palatable though, I’ve to do this.
I wonder if I am doing the right thing
But here, in this game, the referee,
Never stops to tell you what’s right or wrong.
“EXPERIENCE,” I’ll grow old with it
But never get out of here.
Sometimes the sky is a crazy combination of clouds.
Somewhere a grey patch, somewhere white puffy ones,
Elsewhere its tainted yellow and it’s a streak yet on another side.
Life is such a mixture too.
From nowhere, I noticed, one day, a grey patch
Travel steadily and as though released like an arrow,
It darted into an expanse of white clouds-
The whole thing turned grey too.
So too, people in gloom, carry it around.
And turn everybody around gloomy.
The first phase of the game, for me, seemed easier.
Now in my second phase-
No. let me give it a good try.
You know! In this game, if you are hurt,
You can’t tell anyone but the referee?!
And He isn’t going to nurse you either.
He would rather teach you the golden rule
That enables you to play better.
And it is ENDURANCE.
If you learn this rule, you are halfway through.
Sometimes there are repeated hurdles
If you get over them, over and over again,
You’ve actually learnt yet another rule PERSEVERANCE.
At times there are botheration.
They annoy you and leave you famished.
Take care; these are tricks to outwit you.
But not if you know the rule of TOLERANCE.
Sometimes like pitfalls are these reverie trick.
If you can brush the past and LIVE IN THE PRESENT,
Then you can make a clean way through.
A warning comes out of experience
And it is well understood-
Never be an enthusiast with discontented people around.
They’ll never give your score even if you make a home run.
On the gallery of hooting and cheering crowds,
There are some to blow you off or pull you down,
It is then you must remember-POISE.
Make your move and don’t stop until you bump into someone.
And don’t stand still then, just go dashing through
Until you bump in again and the just go on.
Remember when you are out of the maze,
There are winners with a smile to greet you.
And it is only the referee who really matters.
Thus far, I’ve only figured out the rules-
To work it out and win…well, I wouldn’t be there to tell you.
11 September 2005
Incidentally, I chanced upon my little album. Nostalgic thoughts and beautiful feelings swept my mind and I turned the flaps of that small album. The truth that am growing spoke loud through those pages. I saw those indolent eyes stare with all its questions wrapped inside. I am told, that I was a doll that never smiled nor frowned. I was a strange bundle of experience that everyone wanted to have.I was the owner's pride and neighbour's envy. I wish I could see that self of mine. Then I grew, into a little lass wanting to receive from the bounty, all joys that life was waiting to give me. I enjoyed every moment that I then had to live on earth. As I grew, I sobered, smiled within myself, cried within myself and found a good friend in myself. Then life changed, times changed and I changed too...
