The morning conversation

(2001)

The sun, when it came up this morning,
Seemed to ask me, smiling through its rays-
"Who do you want to be;
Yourself, or another?
What are your dreams, desires, hopes,
And what are you heading towards?
Can you see these walls encircling you,
Can you see impending doom in these fetters?
And you, complex amalgamation of lesh, nerves, sinew
And hopes, dreams, desires-
What do you really want
To gain from the process you call life?
Would you like it to be a petty charade
Like that of listless processionists in a rally
Or would you like it to be a joyful parade
Like that of victorious soldiers?"
This, the sun asked me
As I lay in bed in morning's early hour.

Shortly after, the clouds came, covering the sun,
And they seemed to ask me-
"What is more important,
To set yourself free and suffer for it?
Or to be fettered, but to prosper?
To be happy might be glorious,
And freedom might seem like bliss,
But there are bindings everywhere,
There are conventions to follow,
And things to be done;
And the drone of life, dull as it may be,
Must always go on.
You may have dreams,
But it is better by far
To adapt yourself
To the realities of this world."
Thus the clouds spoke to me,
Their prosaic tone ringing in my ears.

But then again, the cool morning breeze
Came and caressed my body,
And seemed to say-
"Be what you would like to be,
Let yourself free, let your dreams flow,
Let not the daily grind obliterate you;
And you, the one and only you,
Weather it all and come shining through.
Joyful procession, dull charade,
Whatever life becomes-
It is yours for the making,
It is yours to live;
So, set yourself free
And just be what you want to be."

And thus, these happy tones ringing in my ears,
I got out of bed, and set forth,
One more day-
To face the struggling world.