We do not know
who cares for us
live or dead
nor do we know
our end
now or ever
which meeting with whom
is the last
we do not know
when darkness gushes
in from the breach
sky sinks down
as stranger we come
as stranger
we pass
like withered grass
uncelebrated
unmourned, unknown
–R.K.SINGH
Tumultuous Twists and Turns of Life cast upon us a shadow;
And squeeze our living space into an alley so narrow.
We seek peace and ask God for his mercy-a-borrow,
So that we can multiply joy and cut down-a-sorrow.
The Twists of life for us all are crucial lessons,
Which prepare us to face the ever gripping tensions.
Tumultuous Twists and Turns of life cast upon us a shadow;
And squeeze our living space into an alley so narrow.
We muster valor to face the vagaries of providence
So that we can efface all the negativity and diffidence.
The Turns of life spin us off the tracks to go meandering;
And make us tread the path which triggers quantum leaping.
Is there life after death?
It is a million dollar question,
In every body’s mind.
Bent on to unravel the mystery,
I meditated deeply day after day.
To my pleasant surprise, one day,
God appeared in dazzling radiance,
Moved by my severe penance!
“Well, my son, I grant your prayer;
I shall reveal unto thee the Truth,
As a special case;
Hold my hand firmly”, He commanded.
In a fraction of second,
My body became weightless.
I floated like a feather in the air,
At speed unimaginable,
Fast thru’ glittering and colourful,
Heavenly bodies;
A delightful and breathtaking view!
Shortly in the timeless zone we landed,
Near an enticing and spread out garden.
The exuberant and profusely blossomed
Flowers in vibrant hues,
Fountains dancing to melodious tunes,
Could be seen wherever I would turn. Celestial and mellifluous music wafted thru’
The subtly perfumed gentle breeze.
The ambience was relaxing and refreshing;
No! Never in our mundane world,
You would find an experience, so exciting.
On a closer examination,
I saw tinny and ‘shadowy figures,’
(They looked odd and faintly visible.)
Here and there, effortlessly floating,
In slow and graceful motion.
Some lay peacefully like a babe in mother’s lap,
A few rested merrily under radiant trees.
I was perplexed and astounded,
On seeing a sight, inconceivable!
Excited I turned towards God,
Reading my mind, He explained,
“The ‘shadowy figures’ you see,
Are the souls of men
Who by their virtue of good deeds
Are blessed and accommodated here,
A paradise, if you may prefer to call it.
They are free from misery and mortality
And from pain and sorrow.
Live here in perpetual happiness
And in eternal peace.”
Enthralled by this world of fantasy,
Here, for ever I longed to stay.
But my ‘Guide’ took me away swiftly,
Ignoring my wish resolutely.
The onward journey this time was
Through dark tunnels,
Hot and suffocating,
And we landed near
What appeared to be a haunted valley.
Steaming hot water flowing thru’.
A precariously hanging bridge
Connected the other side of the valley,
Where hutments like dwellings
Were sighted here and there.
I saw to my horror and disbelief,
A large and countless ‘shadowy figures,’
Trying to rush thru’ the bridge,
To reach the only ‘habitat’ on the other side.
In the process, many fell down
Thru’ hidden trap doors in the bridge.
The cries they made in writhing pain,
As they were consumed by boiling tide,
Reverberated all thru’ the valley
And sent shivers up my spine.
I trembled in great fear
To think of the diabolic punishment
In store for the ‘tainted souls.’
Only a handful reached the other side.
(May be, the lesser ‘tainted souls’?)
When I turned to God,
I saw Him in sarcastic grin,
And vanished into air thin.
I was hurled down the space;
Descending at alarming speed,
Landed on the earth with a thud.
When I opened my eyes,
I found myself lying on the floor.
(A fall from my bed, in the nightmare?)
Before I recover from the shock,
From nowhere I hear a divine voice,
“Don’t waste your time and energy,
To find out what happens after death,
You’ll come to know the moment,
You cast off your corporal frame.
Perform your task well,
Guard your soul from evil,
By your good deeds and virtue.
Lead a righteous life on the earth
And fear not the inevitable death.”