Wednesday, May 30, 2007

The sea at night speaks in so many languages
The stillness of the wind
The darkness of the naked sky
The anger of the waves
The mischief of the moon
. . . all together
adding up to a night of monologue

Listen … don t speak
for the stillness talks about a life without a goal to conquer
the darkness speaks about the inner you that is hidden from everyone else. . . behind a mask of what people think you are
the anger that reminds you of all you wanted to be and do but never could. . . portrayed by the waves that touch the shore only to go back again
and the mischief of a naughty moon eluding its lover through dark clouds

Speak to me Oh Night
Speak to me today as I sit by the sea
For I will be gone tomorrow
Beneath the sands of time

So speak to me Oh Night
Speak to me today as I sit by the sea
For tomorrow
We become strangers once again.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon when I heard a strange sound, which sounded like a bird chirping. It wasn't like any bird I heard before so I looked outside my window. To my surprise I saw a small colorful yet unusual bird struggling to free her feet from some strings that she had got entangled in. I felt sorry for that bird and stretched out my hand to help it. At first she got alarmed but soon somehow realized that my intentions were noble and let me pick her up in my hand. I gently took off the entangled strings from around her leg and smilingly said as I placed her on the windowsill " Now be careful little one, don t go getting yourself in trouble again".

What happened next was quite unexpected.

To my surprise the bird spoke back to me "Thank you kind man, for helping me today. But I am no ordinary bird.
name is 'Hope'. But I was not always a bird. I was a heavenly being called 'True Happiness'.
I was cursed by an evil demon to live my life as Hope until I meet a 1000 good men. I could grant each one of them a single wish.
However the last of these I could grant only a wish that is selfless. You are that last man. So now I can grant you one wish and return back to Heaven. However, please remember, your wish cannot be one asking for wealth and power."

I thought for a while, still surprised about what was happening. "It must be just a dream" "I said to myself." So I decided to play along. After all a dream can be no harm. But what can I wish for then if not for wealth or power. I thought real hard.

And finally said to the bird "Oh little magical genie bird, this is what I ask for, may this be a peaceful world where people love and care for each other"

The bird's face fell. She seemed worried. "What have you asked of me young man" she said "It is an impossible wish you ask"

"Impossible" I said "why would you say so?"

The magical little bird looked up to me and said

"Young Man, this world, your world is a funny place.
Something no one can ever understand.
Throughout the animal kingdom
Everywhere you look
Creatures of every kind show similar behavioral patterns.
In joy and happiness they come together
Though sorrow and danger scatter their flock.

But you humans are quite the opposite of all
Your behavior defies all logic.
In Happiness and Prosperity, you forget each other.
You live a life of selfishness and greed
Loathing all for yourself
Caring not for your brother
Caring not for your world.

And in sorrow and calamity, you get closer to each other
You go out of your way to help
A Tsunami or a 9/11
Are moments that bring forth so much destruction
And yet through these moments
Come forth the true spirit of mankind

You refuse to share when you have everything in abundance
But go out of your way to give out of your nothingness

So now you see
Why I cannot grant your wish.
For in a peaceful world
You humans grow selfish and hard hearted.
Caring and loving no one but yourself.
While
In a world of sorrow and dangers
You reach out to one another
In love and care

Thus you see
Both cannot exist together
Cause you and your world
Are quite so strange.
So ask me something else
for I cannot gift a wish
which cancels out itself"

I was now more confused than the bird
Although I knew what she said was true

This then is my dilemma,

Do I ask for a Peaceful world where no one cares for each other?
Or
A world filled with chaos that holds people together.

What do I ask for what should be my wish

And so I sit with this dilemma, beside a little magical 'Hope' that wishes to turn back into 'True Happiness'
 

Copyright 2010 The Chronicles Of A Common Man.