When You Lose Integrity, You Lose Identity Too. Poem by Sadashivan Nair

A rich man once
In early dawn,
Got up from his bed;
Did not believe his eyes;
A gleam of spirit in rush,
Rose from inside;
Said calmly but firm,
'Am wealth Goddess,
leaving you;
Don't stay with people,
Who don't respect,
Don't inspire,
Don't set example to others,
Are no worth wealthy rich';
Rich man kept mum,
Over and over thought in mind,
'I donated, gave alms,
Gave food and clothes to poor,
Worshiped Goddess day and night;
Another glowing spirit,
Appeared out of body,
Said coolly, but firm,
' I am your 'luck',
live together with wealth,
You don't have any more;
Then came glowing sprite,
Said in grin,
'Am your 'ego',
No wealth, no luck,
What ego has the role;
So I leave';
One by one all left,
Finally, my identity,
Came out as gleam,
Said softly but firm,
'I appear as gleam to caution,
All come and go as are mortal,
But am with you, as long as,
'Dharma' is intact in you;
You lose all,
Yet nothing you lose;
But when you lose your 'Dharma',
You are nothing,
But alive as zombie;


© sadashivan nair