So much at Stake!

When they laughed, with me aloud,

I lagged to infer, in a shade of hate!

‘That they care’ - knocked not the door of my cloud,

As I grieve and lament the path of my fate!

 

When they talked loud or low,

The ears to my brain tried catching the flow,

Suspicious of the noises that talked of the self!

Disguised my ego! And mistook as my help!

 

But I never got it so much right

And allowed never, an indication, ever so slight!

That they laughed and shouted for joy to be

They were happy and excited - for me! And for me!

 

Slightest of fun, in their jokes to see

That they longed for joining, for me to be

And made life lighter, to float and fly!

Alas! (was) always found wanting, to look up the sky!

 

I love to talk, and I love to play -

For people to mingle, do I need to harden the clay?

When the lenses of my heart, show a blurry haze -

At the footsteps of future, should I brighten my page?

 

When to listen, and not to react?

How to relish, and not be pained?

That I learn by my mistake!

Keeping so much at the stake!

 

Nayan's

Sat, 13^th Nov, 2010

Early morning 3:50 am

Madhapur flat

Hyderabad, India

Author's Note

[1] Door of my cloud - Cloud refers to the shell in which the poet has captured himself
[2] they longed for joining, for me to be - The poet's friends wanted him to join and celebrate with them.
[3] harden the clay - Hardening one's heart, so that minor jokes, and abuses no longer hurt you
[4] blurry haze - Not clear = the poet sees the world in a different vision that he wants to rectify
[5] brighten my page - the poet wants to shed his disappointment and negative thoughts
[6] much at the stake - Learning slowly one by one through one's mistakes, can put many important things out of place, and at stake!

Reviews

[Ellen Hammond]

This has a lovely rhyme and flow and an important message of reflection. Too often we react without taking time to think about a situation or the intent of others words, laughter, and/or actions. Hindsight is 20/20 and hopefully we learn well from our mistakes so we are not destined to repeat them until we do learn.

[Mo'Kha]

I love the care you take in putting your words on the page...your voice is clear and strong. This poem is for those who love to "read" poetry. Blessings, ~M

[Desert Dreamer]

A poet cannot harden his/her heart, it will disconnect one from the world....

[Tina Kline]

Life's journey, often the hardest and the most rewarding journey of all. And learning by our mistakes, learning as we live, that's probably one of the most important things we can learn to do on this journey...end the end just live and enjoy life as much as possible. Outstanding write.

[Tate Morgan]

A journey to be sure to look at ones self I loved it Bravo
100