By Priyadarshini Pai

There was a man; in a small town, he was born.
Honesty, truth, integrity were his values uniform.
Everyday was a struggle, not very smart was, he.
Had he no friends, no enemies; none to fend, but be.
“Good-for-nothing” did they call him everywhere,
He tried and tried to change, the unfriendly air;
His principles, never did he, give in to fear.
“Come what may,” his conscience said, “try again my dear.”
Words of belief, often he to himself said,
Got none to stand by or help him tread.
Alone he walked, and walked on his way,
Did he know where it led, or did it sway?
He thought again, what on earth, did he lack;
Sometimes in wonder, sometimes in slack,
Why did he not feel happy?
Why did the journey have to go so sloppy?

When giving in and going away became difficult,
A hope for himself, he sought in occult.
Thousand colors did they show;
None seemed close and none did owe,
A small reason, to not let go;
Success still seemed unreal, and only a foe.
In despair, he did land cold, one night;
Only darkness that moment surrounded him in sight.

Days passed by, with him on wane,
Summer passed by spring, so did the rain.
“Kill me! Will you? Because I can’t die” He thought,
“If not for sorrow, my life, what have you brought?
Moments together, to make a mark I struggle,
Yet not once, you give me a hope bubble.
“Why am I here? And where am I going?
This boat looks abandoned, and why am I rowing?”

God heard and came to the man, unseen;
Touched the man, gently, did his divine light beam.
In a flash, did everything, turn upside down;
A name was suddenly known in the town.
Struck in wonder, in an instant, was built;
A rich man, with direction, off the desolated silt;
Into his naïve eyes, did God look and smile,
Happiness poured in, replacing his rile.

And to him did God say, “My child, with patience, who did, try;
In my given desert so hot and so dry,
For never have been, your values to sacrifice;
Nor ever have you taken to malice,
For all the perseverance you show,
In front of the devils, never you bow;
Hope and more hope in life, you did always have,
Thus with love, your wounds hereon shall I salve.”