RECOGNIZING OUR REALITY

"People are recognised by their work."

Once, someone proudly told me this.

I never knew then of the worldly jerks.

My life was all happy-go-lucky and bliss.

Then I got aware that it isn't just about work.

Even if you are walking alone without disturbing,

There will always be a few ones who will smirk.

They will surely do the foolish barking and hurting.

You won't be wishing for some stupid fame.

But they will bestow it out of grace on you.

They won't mind illogically tainting your name.

For fun, they will do what they want to do.

If you will go right, they will ask you to go left.

If you will go up, they will ask you to go down.

If you will not choose to go and stay erect,

Then they will nicely gift you the fool's crown.

Neither long hair nor short hair will please them.

Neither a veil nor a short bikini will be correct.

In their opinion even a brilliant human is dumb.

At any cost, they will find in you some defect.

Is it because we are wrong somewhere?

Or is it just because we are different?

Undoubtedly their thinking is not fair.

Maybe they are jealous and belligerent.

Even roses are hated by a few for their thorns.

But it never stops them from being a rose.

Even if you try to mutilate the flower's form,

Its pleasant and subtle essence never goes.

Sweets are loathed by some for being unhealthy.

I say," Did the sweet plead you to eat it?"

But the human norms point the sweets as filthy.

Their own mistakes, they will never admit.

It's not just for once that I experienced this.

There has been a chain of events like that.

It's like forcing you out of a sudden into an abyss.

They will just treat you like a dusty doormat.

The worst part is your lack of worthy retort.

Since they don't want to listen to your boring speech.

But if you will inquire about their speech's purport,

They will blow their so-called democracy fife.

Does democracy mean saying anything to anyone?

Is it a licence to freely blabber and abuse?

They use it like randomly firing a blowgun

Without knowing which hit may turn into a bruise.

How double standard it is! I wonder at times.

People insanely do what they don't expect from us.

They say that they are saints away from crimes.

But the next day, out of tiny stuff they make a fuss.

So, here is a conclusion that I believe in.

Currently, people are not just recognised by their work.

They are also recognised by slanders and backbiting.

Spreading fancy rumours is other's favourite homework.

People are also recognised due to other's sins.

People are recognised due to other's stupidity.

Alas! When such treachery by other's begins,

They fail to realise the death of morality.

However, if they call you a tiny winy cat,
Don't forget that you are a fierce lion.
It's their problem if they are spoiled brats.
Don't make them your problem. Just carry-on.

 Deep within, we can recognise our reality

Because it is what matters the most.

We simply cannot forget our true identity

Accruing to such so-called living ghosts.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(July10, 2018)