Rekha celebrates the many facets of life, in this evocative poem, exclusively for Different Truths.

Life is a journey to nowhere,
Not always a silky route
For some it’s as intoxicating as wine,
For many a grapple, a continuous ordeal
Yet, the yearning, lust and lure,
The greed, undying and unending.

Roles and performances unrehearsed,
First take is always the ultimate
No retakes, no glare of camera lights
In weathers stormy and through paths unknown.

Serendipity and misfortunes in abundance,
Of challenges, experiences and opportunities,
A luscious brew of joys and sorrows,
Of people and nostalgic memories,
In gay abandon of childhood,
Of crushes and kisses in youth.

All about searching for oneself,
In the maze of perplexity
Realisation like diamonds,
Of brilliant, prismatic hues.
Celebrating victories and mourning defeats,
Of ideals and of living in honour,
Being unfeigned, undeterred;
With a perfect gait, never to succumb,
With the charming arc of the smile,
With honesty and sincerity,
To march ahead always.

To stand beside loved ones,
To give comfort and strength.
Always their friend and guide,
The punching bag and,
Wind beneath their wings.
To accept with humility,
Faults and weakness and self-doubt,
To make decisions with determination.

With gratitude and satisfaction,
To be cast for the final performance,
No accolades, no awards,
Or pompous luxuries.
As the curtain falls,
Once for the last time,
Into eternal sleep we go,
In the opulence of six feet.
Amidst loud sounds of applause.
Was it a journey well-travelled,
And a life well-lived, with fulfilment?
Remains the quintessential question,
Lost in the deep fathoms of our mind.

Photo from the Internet