Life. Poem by Nabakishore Dash

Life starts with meeting
and fusion of sperm and ovum
forming a single celled zygote
in mother's womb.
Lands on earth,
a multicellular individual
like a fresh bloom.
Then life continues
sans your choice,
sometimes flowers,
sometimes thorns,
sometimes pits,
sometimes plains,
ascension and descension
certainly come
in every life-span.
Time passes by,
never stops,
hours, days, months, years
without gaps.
Learning, reading,
collection of diploma, degrees.
Searching for jobs
as per your predilection,
not so easy.

Marriage, profession,
friends, social bondage
and children.
All time spent in acquisition
of power, position, and possession.
Survival and progress
are filled with strife,
solution of conflicts
takes time,
no time available
to analyse and decipher
the meaning of life.

Death brings life
to an abrupt end.
Again no choice,
one can not comprehend.
All amassed so far
is left here on earth.
You are alone,
none accompanies death.
Wife and relations
shed some tears,
Your mortal body
is carried for cremation
after some prayers.

Whether foolish or wise,
low or high,
poor or rich,
bed in cremation ground
is the same for each.

Ego, anger, greed and passion,
prevalent in life are
unpleasant, inferior possession.
Replacing them by love,
care, selflessness,
less consumerism,
more eco-conservatism,
less instant gratification,
more mindful living,
less judgemental,
more compassionate,
makes life an awesome-sauce.
After all our activities are hushed
and we are reduced into
a mound of ash.