He steps up to the speaker’s stand, looks out at the crowd…
There – some friends cheering hard; there – family beaming proud,
There – a kindly smile; there – an envious stare…
Closes eyes, stills his heart; under his breath, a silent prayer.
Sounds from now fade away; sights for the moment unseen
Mind winging back – over the years, the journey that has been.
……………………………………………………….

Days of struggle… late into the night
Lists, plans, tasks… a lonely circle of light.
The goal afar, the path so long
Would he get there, would he go wrong?

His mother’s bangles on a jeweler’s counter
Money… sentiment… a moment’s falter.
So much given for each step won,
Some remembered, some forcefully forgotten.

The things he did, the people he met,
The days he laughed and the moments he wept.
Memories of joy, and some of deepest despair,
He had lived through both with a defiant flair.
……………………………………………………….

Now here he was, things turned about
“I did it! I did it!”, his mind cries out.
His heart still full… memories tug
He shakes them off, with a cheerful shrug.
It is time to celebrate all that has been,
Look forward to new paths… dreams yet unseen.

– Madhuri

“There are thousands of lives in one single life.”- Prajnanapada