A Gaze At Life Poem by Alex Koonthanam

Life is like a lonely star
That shines in the darkness of the night
Which the assailing rays of dawn
Cause disappear from the sight.

Life is like a burning flame
That keeps darkness away
And when its oil is over
Slowly dims and dies away.

Life is like a dew drop
Smiling on a flower's cheek
Which the rising Lord of day
Makes some other refuge seek.

Life is like a blooming flower
That for a moment scents the air
And then hangs withered, lifeless
Gazing you with a dead stare.

Life is like a simple smile
That lits a little child's face
And the next moment with sobs
Is silently replaced.

Life is like a rainbow
That colourfully arcs the blue
A short-lived, lovely presence
And then disappears from the view.

Life is but a tearful story
Begun in elseone's womb
And continues its narration
Till ends in one's own tomb.

Life is but cold slabs in array
Laid in each cemetery
Mute witnesses of what has been
Never again to be.

* * *

The richness of this short experience
Is that we are one in love
Till one day, as we believe
We'll forever meet above.

The strength of this unique thing
Is that someone else trod the way
And his bloodstained footprints Lead us on our march today.
The joy of this pilgrimage
Is that you're never alone
In joy and sorrow, smiles and tears
With me and Him you 're one!

The hope of this weary journey
Is that the path would one day bring
Where all sorrows and tears are past
Where we'll in happiness sing!

Alex Koonthanam