A Look At Life-112 Poem by Smrui Ranjan Mohanty

A LOOK AT LIFE, -112
BY-SMRUTI RANJAN MOHANTY

LIVING WITH A MASK ON FACE

No problem with a mask
I have been wearing it
Since the day I realised
I am lonely amidst many
And a battle is on
A battle to excel and survive
Which I have to fight on my own
The battle is for my survival
As the game is the game
Of the survival of the fittest
Rules of the game never remain constant
That is why hiding and escaping are so important

I am having a mask
Since the day I realised
Truth alone can not save me
Righteousness is relative
The truth may be bitter
Men of letters, knowledge and wisdom
May not come out of their seclusion defending truth
Instead, they may prefer dignified silence
As the situation and environment
Keep on changing
I do not know who is a friend
Who is my enemy
I need something else to survive
And hiding becomes a necessity
To understand a situation and people better
To remain in the race
To live with them
Who never put a straight face.

I am having a mask
Since the I day realised
I can not make everything public
Sometimes I am to hide myself
My intention, attitudes, feelings and emotions
From others to better equip me
To live in a world where priorities keep on changing And naked self-interest rules the game

Now I am having a mask
To protect me from the invading virus
The reason is the same
Keeping myself safe
From outside viruses
Visible and invisible
And remaining in the game
With more vigour and zest.

When I look at the mirror
I envy myself
How beautiful I look
Behind a mask and think
How difficult life would have been
Without a mask on the face.

Smruti Ranjan Mohanty©