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Be What You Are


The frolic boughs of trees tremble,
butterfly-latticed leaves flutter 
in the trail of summer squall, 
where the feisty forest plays with foliage.
Don’t make your mind 
a sprawling forest of forlornness.
In descending dismal dusk, 
with the flickering shadows of flora,
let it sprint and play.

The ballerina crests of waves roll, 
with pearls on pitching breakers 
under storm-splashed sky, 
with tempest tempo the sea dances. 
Don’t make your mind 
a still sea of sheet glass.
On the surge of upwelling tides 
of the tumultuous times,
let it float and dance.

Perched niche of nest crashes,  
the scared chicks fly away,
after the midnight storm 
the lonely bird soars in sapphire sky.
Don’t make life a homeless bird 
of broken wings.
In the threshold of splintered times  
from the ruins of wrecked hope,
let it rise and fly.

Quartz shine of sands makes mirage, 
frail face of cactus hope crumples
in the cradle of dwindling dunes, 
the wasteland wind sings in the oasis.
Don’t make your heart 
a desiccated cauldron of desert. 
The lilting lyric of emerald oasis 
in blinding surge of sandstorm,
let it intone and sing.

Be true to yourself, 
remain what you are meant to be.
The mind will play and dance 
with the shadow of despair,
the deserted heart will sing 
the song of ecstasy in sanguine oasis. 
The wrecked life will rise  
from the debris of distress,
if you are what you are.



Copyright © Subimal Sinha-Roy

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Book: Shattered Sighs