The man is still alive in air
A hundred years passed,
The man is still alive in air
Alive with fabulous wealth,
That grew and grew after
He left for heavenly abode.
Very rich man at ninety-one
None could compete him in
Health, wealth and manner
Merely at nineteen started
Struggling for rice and bread
With the thought of his head
He got a job but as cashier
He starved for a couple’ days
He had money but company’s
Wretched was his condition
Passing thr’gh a dense forest
An angel came down to earth
Five sacks of precious gems
Here is the bag of diamond
Here is another bag of ruby
Another bag of sapphire so
You can take the bag of gold
If not take that of the silver
No, no, I wouldn’t take any
Take any, be the richest one
You can convert into money
You can buy a palatial house
You can marry a fairy alike
You can become the monarch
Of all you survey in and around
Watchmen will be at the gate
To salute you all the ways to
To guard you and your assets
The boy turned a deaf ear to
For he was knowing ill- gotten
Can’t bring him peace of mind
Nor can make his life sublime
What can do better for him.
Only the money that he earns
By hard work and ‘onest means
Still enough time in his hands
Still much of energy he has had
Can fulfill his dream, if not now
But sometime sooner or later
What of that, he can wait for
He will never accept as alms
Can take only what he deserves
Nothing more or nothing less
The angel was stunned to hear
All these stupid things from him
O’ fool, the poorest of the poor.
You would repent if turn down,
I want to remain the poorest
For I do not want to carry more
Then why should I crave for
More than I require to live on.
He marched to his destination
The angel gone disappointed and
The boy in pursuit of ambition for
What Lord has asked to perform.
–END–
Durga Prasad
